How to Choose Your Achilles Surgeon (And What Questions to Ask)

How do you choose the right Achilles surgeon after a rupture? If you’ve recently torn your Achilles tendon, you may have only a few days to make one of the most important decisions of your recovery. But how do you evaluate a surgeon? What questions should you ask? And what actually matters when comparing different surgeons and treatment options? In this video, I break down exactly how I chose my own Achilles surgeon and the eight questions I believe every Achilles rupture patient should ask during their consultation. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy who works alongside orthopedic surgeons at a Level I Trauma Center, I’ve had the opportunity to see many different approaches to Achilles tendon treatment and rehabilitation. While there are many excellent surgeons out there, becoming an informed patient can help you better understand your options and make a more confident decision. 📌 The 8 Questions I Would Ask an Achilles Surgeon 1. Do you recommend surgery or non-operative treatment for my injury? 2. Which part of the Achilles tendon is involved? 3. How many Achilles tendon ruptures do you treat each year? 4. If surgery is recommended, do you perform an open repair or a minimally invasive repair? 5. What complications do you see most often? 6. When do you typically allow weight bearing? 7. What is your rehabilitation protocol? 8. Will residents or trainees be participating in my surgery? In this video we also discuss: ✔ Fellowship-trained Foot & Ankle Surgeons ✔ Surgeon specialization and experience ✔ Open vs Minimally Invasive Achilles Repair ✔ Mid-substance vs Musculotendinous Junction vs Insertional Ruptures ✔ Accelerated vs Conservative Rehabilitation ✔ Weight-Bearing Timelines ✔ Surgical Risks and Complications ✔ How to Become a More Informed Patient About Achilles Recovery Lab I’m Karl Koenig, DPT. After rupturing my own Achilles tendon just 24 hours before a dream trip to Greece, I decided to document my recovery and create the resource I wish I had when I was injured. This channel combines: • Evidence-based research • Clinical experience as a physical therapist • Real-world recovery updates • Practical advice for Achilles rupture patients Whether you’re considering surgery, recovering after repair, or exploring non-operative treatment, my goal is to help you make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcome. 📌 Next Video: Can an Achilles tendon rupture heal without surgery? We’ll review the evidence behind operative and non-operative treatment and discuss who may be a candidate for each approach. #AchillesRupture #AchillesTendon #AchillesSurgery #AchillesRepair #AchillesRecovery #FootAndAnkleSurgeon #OrthopedicSurgery #PhysicalTherapy #SportsMedicine #AchillesRehab #AchillesRecoveryLab