It is a mini-invasive procedure performed under local aesthetic through a 1 cm long skin incision. The deep side of the Achilles is visualized and the infiltrative fat, blood vessels and nerves are scraped away from the deep side of the Achilles tendon. Scraping is guided by findings on ultrasound and colour-doppler. As treatment is performed outside the tendon, this allows for immediate weight-bearing and progressive increase in loading. Most patients can return to running in 6-8 weeks.

Related articles:

• Alfredson H. Editorial. Where to now with Achilles tendon treatment? Br J Sports Med 2011; 45:386.
• Alfredson H. Ultrasound and Doppler-guided mini-surgery to treat midportion Achilles tendinosis: results of a large material and a randomised study comparing two scraping techniques Br J Sports Med 2011;45 407-410.
• Ruergård A, Alfredson H. Major physical but also psychological effects after pain relief from surgical scraping in patients with Achilles tendinopathy-a 1-year follow-up study. PST Vol.2 No.1: 21-25. 2014.
• Masci L, Spang C, van Schie H TM, Alfredson H. Achilles tendinopathy-do plantaris tendon removal and Achilles scraping improve tendon structure? A prospective study using ultrasound tissue characterisation. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2015;1:e000005doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2015-00000
• Alfredson H. Low recurrence rate after mini surgery outside the tendon combined with short rehabilitation in patients with midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Open J Sports Med 2016;7 :51-54.

What is it?

Jumper´s knee is considered a difficult and troublesome injury to treat. However, recent research demonstrating neural infiltration in the tendon has led to a successful new mini-invasive surgical treatment method. Under local or general anaesthetic and guided by ultrasound, infiltrative fat, blood vessels and nerves are shaved away from the deep side of the patellar tendon using an arthroscopic shaver. As treatment is performed outside the tendon, this allows for immediate weight-bearing and progressive in increase in load. Most patients can return o full loading in 8 weeks.

Related articles:
Willberg Lotta. Thesis 04102013.
Willberg L, Sunding K, Forsblad M, Alfredson H. Ultrasound- and doppler-guided
arthroscopic shaving to treat Jumper´s knee. Knee Surg, Sport Traumatol, Arthrosc 2007, 15: 1400-1403.
Alfredson H., Masci L.M. Ultrasound and Doppler-guided surgery for the treatment of Jumper´s knee in professional rugby players. PST Vol.3 No.1 :1-5, 2015.
Willberg L, Sunding K, Forssblad M, Fahlstrom M, Alfredson H. Sclerosing polidocanol
injections or arthroscopic shaving to treat patellar tendinopathy/jumper’s knee? A
randomised controlled stud. Br J Sports Med 2011;45 411-415.