Calf Muscle Tightness: Calf Muscle Release Animation

Calf Muscle Tightness: Calf Muscle Release Animation

This animation demonstrates a calf muscle release for the treatment of calf muscle tightness. The 2 calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and soleus, connect to the Achilles tendon to attach to the heel bone. In this procedure, only the part of the tendon that connects to the gastrocnemius muscle will be cut, while the part that connects to the soleus muscle will be left untouched. This procedure will be performed endoscopically with small incisions and a tiny camera.

Here, we see the back of a right leg. The ankle is positioned in dorsiflexion, or pointed upward, to stretch the calf muscles. A small incision is made along the inner side of the calf. A surgical clamp is used to separate soft tissue away from the top of the Achilles tendon. A plastic tube called a cannula is inserted between the skin and Achilles tendon. This cannula has an open slot on 1 side.

A second incision is then made along the outer side of the calf and the cannula is pushed through the incision. The central portion of the cannula is removed and the inside is cleaned out. A tiny camera is then inserted into the cannula to view the top of the Achilles tendon. A metal rod is inserted through the cannula to hold the position in place and clear away further soft tissue from the tendon.

The cannula is then removed, turned 180 degrees, and reinserted. Next, the cannula is turned so that the open slot faces the Achilles tendon. The metal rod is removed. The camera is inserted into 1 end of the cannula, and a hooked blade is inserted into the other end. The blade is pulled back to cut through the Achilles tendon through the open slot in the cannula, starting from the middle of the tendon and moving outward, guided by the camera.

The camera and blade switch places, and the blade is used to cut through the other half of the tendon. The instruments and cannula are removed. The ankle will be moved to demonstrate an improved range of motion. The incisions will be closed with sutures and the calf muscle release is complete.