Produced by Fife Orthopaedic Department
Information Version No. 1
Date of Issue: June 2023
Review Date: October 2024
If review date has passed, the content will apply until the next version is published
Today your baby had an Achilles Tendon Tenotomy.
The aim of this information sheet is to provide some written information of what to expect afterwards.
Common questions after the procedure
How big will the scar be?
The scar for the tenotomy is very small, usually measuring only 3 or 4 mm.
Will it hurt?
As discussed prior to the procedure we used firstly local anaesthetic cream then a local anaesthetic injection to numb the area prior to the procedure. This will wear off after 4 - 6 hours. Following this your baby may be a little upset or irritable and it is OK to need to give them Paracetamol later today. It is unusual to need to give your baby Paracetamol after 2 days. This wound is very small and will heal very quickly.
Is there anything to look out for?
Uncommonly the plaster may become stained with blood. The skin wound is very small but occasionally there can be a small amount of blood that leaks from the wound. Because the plaster is wet it absorbs the blood like blotting paper. If this happens we would recommend you draw around the area to check if it is spreading. If it continues to spread after the first 3 or 4 hours or it is larger than a 50p please contact us.
Something isn’t right, who should I contact?
Within working hours please contact the Paediatric Physiotherapy
Monday- Friday 9.00-5.00
Joyce Henderson or Suzy Campbell
Advanced Practice Paediatric Physiotherapist
Tel:01592 643355 ext 23609
Mobile: 07811087090
OR
Susan Kerr – Secretary to Mr Murray, Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon
Tel:01592 729071
Out of hours please take your baby to the local Emergency Department.
This leaflet has been produced after an initial review of literature, and where there is a lack of evidence, a consensus of expert opinion is agreed, correct at the time of publication.
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NHS Fife takes care to ensure your personal information is only accessible to authorised people. Our staff have a legal and contractual duty to keep personal health information secure, and confidential. In order to find out more about current data protection legislation and how we process your information, please visit the Data Protection Notice on our website at www.nhsfife.scot or ask a member of staff for a copy of our Data Protection Notice.
Accessible formats
If you require this information in a community language or alternative format e.g. Braille, audio, large print, BSL, Easy Read please contact the Equality and Human Rights Team at: email: fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot or phone 01592 729130. For people with a hearing or verbal impairment you can also contact the team via the NHS Fife SMS text service number on 07805800005.
You can also find health related information on many topics in an Easy Read format on nhsinform.scot.
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