Arthrex Shares Insights on Jayson Tatum’s Achilles Surgery

BOSTON, MA — Arthrex, the company behind the surgical procedure potentially used on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, has released key information about his Achilles injury and recovery process.

Tatum suffered an Achilles rupture, a significant setback for the player and the team. Celtics president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, highlighted the benefits of timely intervention. “The positive was we were 15 minutes away from Dr. [Martin J.] O’Malley, who is a terrific surgeon who has done a number of these,” Stevens said during a press conference.

The surgery was performed swiftly, with Stevens noting, “Dr. Schena was on the phone with him before we left the building on Monday night, and he was out of the MRI, in consultation and done with surgery by the time we had an injury report the next day.” He emphasized that early treatment could help Tatum recover faster.

Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist affiliated with the Green Bay Packers, mentioned, “We’ve learned over the last few years that very early motion and rehabilitation accelerate the healing. The sooner you have the injury, the sooner you have the repair.”

The SpeedBridge technique, used in Tatum’s surgery, allows for quicker recovery and rehabilitation. Typically, patients can start weight-bearing activities earlier than with traditional open repair. “It allows for immediate partial weight-bearing,” Dr. Anderson explained. “Athletes love it because it’s simple and quick to recover from.”

Research shows that the technique reduces complications compared to traditional surgery. In studies comparing methods, percutaneous repair showed significantly lower infection rates and other complications.

<p“Tatum has every chance to come back better than he was before,” stated Dr. Stone, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in Achilles surgeries. The Celtics' management will be keeping a close eye on his progress, hoping that Tatum’s recovery can reopen their championship window.