Tendon Injury Treatment in Turkey: Causes, Symptoms & Recovery

Tendon injury treatment is crucial for proper healing and restoring mobility. In sports medicine and orthopedics, the approach to treating tendon injuries depends on their location and severity.

Learn about tendon injury symptoms, causes, grades, and the best treatment and recovery methods.

This article covers everything from natural remedies and medications to surgical options.

If you're looking for effective tendon injury treatment, contact International Clinics and book a free consultation now!

What is A Tendon Injury?

The tendon is a tough fiber that connects the muscle and bone, tendons play a crucial role in movement by transmitting the force generated by muscles to the bones, enabling joint motion.

A tendon injury (tendinopathy) occurs when these fibers are irritated or damaged, these injuries can range from mild inflammation to complete tendon ruptures, affecting mobility and function.

A tendon injury usually occurs due to overuse, trauma, or degeneration with age.

Causes of Tendon Injury

Tendon injury usually occur as a tear and wear process with overuse and putting stress on the tendon

Athletes are among the most common people with high risk to have tendon injury, however several other diseases may cause tendon pain include:

• Diabetes
• Gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic sclerosis
• Gonococcemia
• Reactive arthritis
• Achilles tendinitis
• Amyloidosis
• Rotator cuff tendonitis

Symptoms of Tendon Injury

symptoms of tendon injuries vary depending on the severity and location of the injury, the general symptoms include:

• Pain: Severe pain is felt in the injured area, which worsens with movement or pressure.
• Swelling and Bruising: The affected area may become swollen and bruised, sometimes limiting movement.
• Limited Movement: Difficulty in bending or straightening the affected joint, such as the fingers or wrist, due to tendon damage.
• Weakness: Reduced grip strength or difficulty holding heavy objects.
• Deformity: In cases of complete tendon rupture, visible deformity in the affected area may occur.
• Sensitivity: The injured area becomes highly sensitive to touch.
• Increased Temperature: A slight rise in temperature may be noticed at the site of injury due to inflammation.

Severity of Tendon Injury

Tendon injuries vary in severity between:

1. Mild strains or tendinitis (Grade 1) with minor inflammation and discomfort

2. Partial tears (Grade 2) causing noticeable pain, swelling, and weakness, and

3. Severe ruptures (Grade 3), where the tendon is completely torn, leading to loss of function and deformity.

Types of Tendon Injuries

Tendon injury varies in the type of damage, severity of the injury and location of the tendon

Type of tendon damage

Tendon damage can be either tendonitis, tendon rupture,or tenosynovitis

1. Tendinitis (Tendonitis): This refers to inflammation of the tendon, usually caused by repetitive motion, overuse, or strain. It often leads to pain, swelling, and limited movement.

2. Tendon Rupture: A severe injury where the tendon partially or completely tears, often due to trauma, sudden force, or chronic degeneration. It usually requires medical intervention, sometimes including surgery.

3. Tenosynovitis: Inflammation of the synovial sheath surrounding the tendon, often caused by repetitive motion or infection. This condition can result in pain, swelling, and restricted tendon movement.

Type of tendon injury based on tendon location

The most common tendon injury affected areas such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle

1. Biceps Tendon Rupture

A tear in the biceps tendon, which connects the biceps muscle to the shoulder or elbow.

2. De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Inflammation of the tendons in the wrist near the base of the thumb, causing pain and difficulty in movement.

3. Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

Inflammation of the tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle of the humerus (the Inner side of the elbow) , affecting grip and wrist movement.

4. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Inflammation of the tendons attached to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (Outer side of the elbow) causing pain when extending the wrist or gripping objects.

5. Achilles Tendon Rupture

A complete tear of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone in the back of the ankle

6. Achilles Tendinitis

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, leading to pain and stiffness, often due to overuse.

7. Extensor Tendon Injuries

Damage to the extensor tendons, which help straighten the fingers, hands, or toes.

8. Rotator Cuff Tear

A tear in one or more tendons of the rotator cuff, this tendon is located in the shoulder and helps lift and rotate the arm.

9. Trigger Finger (Stenosing Tenosynovitis)

Inflammation and thickening of the tendon sheath in the fingers, causing the finger to lock in a bent position.

Why Choose Turkey for Tendon Injury Treatment?

Turkey has become a leading destination for tendon injury treatment due to its affordable healthcare, experienced surgeons, and advanced medical technology. Just as it has gained recognition for joint replacement surgeries, including knee, shoulder, toe, and hip replacements, as well as more complex procedures like flat foot reconstruction, Turkey is also known for its successful tendon surgery outcomes.

Whether you need tendon repair, grafting, or transfer surgery, Turkey offers high-quality care at a fraction of the cost compared to the US and Europe. In Turkish medical centers, you find:

• Affordable prices: Tendon repair surgery costs significantly less than in Western countries.
• Expert surgeons: Highly trained orthopedic specialists with international experience.
• Advanced hospitals: Accredited facilities with modern technology.
• Comprehensive rehabilitation: Post-surgical physiotherapy and recovery programs.

Tendon Injury Treatment Options

Treatment depends on severity, with rest and therapy for mild cases, immobilization for moderate injuries, and surgery for complete ruptures.

Tendon injury treatment option include:

1. Natural Remedies for Tendonitis and Inflammation

Natural remedies for the inflammation include rest, ice, compression, physical therapy, and complementary treatments, such as acupuncture

Rest and Stress Reduction: Avoid activities that worsen the pain.

Physical Therapy: Strengthening and stretching exercises to improve tendon flexibility.

Cold compresses and compression bandages to reduce inflammation.

2. Medications used to treat tendon injury

Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to relieve pain and swelling.

Platelet-Rich Plasma PRP knee injections that Help stimulate tendon healing.

3. Surgical Intervention for Severe Cases

Surgical procedure works by Repairing the torn tendon and reconnecting it to bones or tissues.

Types of Surgical Treatments for Tendon Injuries

Tendon Repair: This procedure is used to reconnect torn or severed tendon ends.

Similar to meniscus repair using an arthroscope to stitch the damaged tendon back together with fine sutures, ensuring proper alignment for healing.

Tendon Transfer: If the damaged tendon is beyond repair or has lost function, a tendon transfer may be necessary.

This procedure involves moving a healthy tendon from a different muscle to take over the function of the injured tendon.

Tendon Grafting: When there is a significant loss of tendon tissue due to trauma, infection, or degenerative conditions, tendon grafting is performed.

In a way resembling that of ACL repair, a graft is taken from another part of the body, often from the palmaris longus tendon in the forearm or the hamstring tendons in the leg.

The grafted tendon is carefully attached to bridge the gap left by the damaged tendon, promoting new tissue growth and function.

This technique is particularly beneficial for chronic tendon injuries or severe tendon defects that cannot be repaired by direct suturing.

What is the cost of tendon repair, transplant, and graft surgery?

The cost varies based on location, hospital, and procedure complexity. In Turkey, tendon repair surgery typically ranges from $2,000 to $6,000, while tendon graft or transplant procedures may cost between $3,500 and $10,000, depending on the tendon type, surgical technique, and post-operative care.

Tendon Injury Recovery Time

Recovery time for tendon injuries depends on severity, treatment and tendon location:

Tendon injury healing and recovery based on the severity of tendon injury

• Mild injuries (tendonitis or minor tears): Heal within 3 to 6 weeks with rest, physical therapy, and avoiding strain.
• Moderate injuries (partial tendon tear): Require 6 to 12 weeks, with immobilization and gradual rehabilitation.
• Severe injuries (complete tendon rupture): May take 3 to 6 months, often needing surgery and extensive therapy.

Tendon injury healing and recovery Surgery:

Post-surgical recovery includes 4 to 6 weeks of immobilization, followed by gradual physical therapy over 3 to 6 months to restore strength and mobility.

Proper rehabilitation, avoiding sudden movements, and following medical advice are key for full recovery.

To ensure that the treated tendon remains immobile after surgery, a splint or cast is applied.

A physical therapy program is designed to restore mobility and increase muscle strength.

Recovery of tendon injury for different tendon locations:

• Finger tendons recovery : Take 6-12 weeks to heal. Mild injuries recover within 3-6 weeks, while partial tears need 6-8 weeks with immobilization. Complete ruptures requiring surgery may take 3-6 months with rehabilitation to restore movement and prevent stiffness.
• Achilles tendon recovery : Requires 3-6 months or more due to the high strain it endures during walking and running, especially after surgery.
• Shoulder tendons (rotator cuff) recovery: Healing takes 3-6 months, and recovery after surgery may take longer due to limited shoulder immobilization.

In general, similar to ACL recovery and meniscus tear healing, tendons require a prolonged time to heal.

The more strain a tendon endures, the longer the recovery period, making proper rehabilitation essential for full function restoration.

Delaying tendon repair or leaving an injury untreated may result in a persistent tear or excessive scar tissue formation at the tendon ends, further complicating recovery.

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FAQs

What is the fastest way to heal a tendon injury?
The fastest way to heal a tendon injury is through rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), combined with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and, in severe cases, PRP injections or surgery.

How long does it take for a tendon to heal?
Healing time depends on severity. Mild tendon injuries heal in 3–6 weeks, partial tears take 6–12 weeks, and complete ruptures may require 3–6 months, especially if surgery is needed.

How long does it take for a torn tendon to heal without surgery?

A torn tendon can take several weeks to months to heal without surgery, depending on the severity of the injury. Mild to moderate tears may heal in 6 to 12 weeks with rest, physical therapy, and immobilization. Severe or complete tears may take 3 to 6 months and may not heal properly without surgical intervention, potentially leading to long-term weakness or loss of function.

Can a tendon tear repair itself?
Partial tendon tears can heal with rest and rehabilitation, but complete ruptures usually require surgery for proper healing and function restoration.

How to know if a tendon is ruptured?
Signs of a ruptured tendon include sudden severe pain, swelling, bruising, weakness, difficulty moving the joint, and sometimes a visible gap or deformity at the injury site.

When is surgery necessary?

Surgery is needed when a tendon is completely torn, when non-surgical treatments fail, or if the injury significantly affects movement and function. It’s also required for tendons with poor blood supply, as they may not heal properly on their own.

What happens if a torn tendon is not repaired?

If left untreated, a torn tendon may lead to chronic pain, weakness, reduced mobility, and joint instability. Over time, the muscle attached to the tendon may shrink (atrophy), and scar tissue can form, making future repair more difficult.