The Achilles Tendon

History of Tendo Achillis and its Rupture.-Anatomy.-Biomechanics.-Imaging.-Aetiology; Epidemiology.-Paratendinopathy.-Tendinopathy of the Main Body of the Achilles Tendon.-Custom Foot Orthotic Management.-Percutaneous Surgical Management.-Open Surgery.-Flexor Hallucis Longus Augmentation for Insertional or Non-Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy.-Generalities of Insertional Tendinopathy.-Insertional Tendinopathy.-Endoscopic Techniques.-Rupture Generalities.-Conservative Management of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture.-Open Surgery for Achilles Tendon Ruptures.-Chronic Ruptures.-Fascial Turndown Flap Repair of Chronic Achilles Tendon Rupture.-Peroneus Brevis Tendon Transfer for Chronic Achilles Tendon Ruptures.-Free Gracilis Tendon Transfer for Chronic Rupture of the Achilles Tendon.-Chronic Ruptures of the Achilles Tendon: Management with Synthetic Material.-Management of Complications.-The Achilles Tendon, Ankle Equinus; Athletes.-Involvement in Paediatric Conditions.-Medico-Legal Aspects.-Genes.

Professor Nicola Maffulli previously published a book with Springer entitled: Tendon Injuries. Nicola Maffulli is a Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery at Keele University School of Medicine and Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary and City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire, UK. He is one of the most pre-eminent sports medicine and orthopaedic consultants in the UK. Nicola has had more than 250 articles published in peer reviewed journals on various aspects of trauma and orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine and sports traumatology. He is currently Editor in Chief of 'Continuous Medical Education in Orthopaedics'; and is an Editorial Board Member for 'The British Journal of Sports Medicine'; 'Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine'; and 'Arthroscopy'. He is President of the British Orthopaedic Sports Trauma Association (BOSTA), and serves as an examiner for The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, and for the Intercollegiate Academic Board of Sports and Exercise Medicine. His areas of particular clinical interest include Tendon problems, ACL injuries and the management of osteoarthritis in young patients.

Dr. Louis C. Almekinders is a native of the Netherlands where he attended Erasmus University (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) for both undergraduate and medical studies. Following the completion of his studies he moved to the USA. While in North Carolina, he completed a residency in Orthopaedic Surgery and a research fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. In 1989 he joined the faculty of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the ensuing 14 years he worked as a team physician for the varsity athletic teams and became a tenured, full professor at UNC. In addition, Dr. Almekinders spent a considerable amount of his time in basic, orthopaedic research focusing on acute and chronic soft tissue injuries. In 2002 he resigned his position to