There has been a lot of talk recently regarding Kobe Bryant's quick recovery from his achilles tendon surgical repair. Not to down-play this recovery, but being a physician who has performed several achilles tendon repairs, I noticed something about this scar. When looking at it, I notice that it is obviously healed well, but I also notice that the scar stops further up on the ankle. To me, this means that he likely didn't require a more complex repair that often involves some detachment of the tendon from the heel bone. In this case, the repair, though still very successful, has a much longer recovery time. This is because hardware is often used to reattach the achilles tendon to the heel. In this case, the patient must partake in a much more gradual return to activity, especially to perform at the high level needed to play in the NBA.
If you have any achilles tendon problems, keep in mind that it is important to address them and not wait. Patients who wait have a much higher chance of needing surgical correction.
