How MOSA Got a Softball Coach Back on the Field

Featured Doctor

Adebola T. Adeleke, DPM, FACFAS

Dr. Adebola Adeleke is a fellowship-trained podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon at Middlesex Orthopedic & Spine Associates

View Profile

The Injury

Maddy is a high school softball coach who tore her Achilles tendon while playing in a game of her own.

“It was my one weekend off from coaching and I got invited to play in an adult softball game. I figured I would be used to the intensity since I played in college,” remembered Maddy.

While attempting to steal second base, Maddy tried to take off after a brief hesitation and felt a snap in the back of her ankle. It felt like such a blow to the back of her leg that she mistakenly thought the first baseman had kicked her.

Although Maddy had sustained some injuries as a student athlete, this was different. She knew immediately that she had injured her Achilles. She made her way to the hospital, where she was referred to Dr. Adebola T. Adeleke, DPM, FACFAS, foot and ankle surgeon at Middlesex Orthopedic & Spine Associates. Dr. Adeleke confirmed that Maddy had ruptured her Achilles tendon.

The Solution

“I was extremely emotional when I saw him because the pain level was just tremendous,” said Maddy. “Dr. Adeleke was nothing but comforting. His presence made me feel like I was in safe hands. He told me what was happening, how he was going to fix it, and that I would be ready to go in six months.”

Through her tears, Maddy stated she was ready to move forward with surgery, wanting to get healthy again as fast as possible. “I trusted him right from the start.”

Just two days after her visit, Maddy underwent a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair. This innovative approach is popular with professional athletes, including many NBA players.

One potential benefit of the minimally invasive approach is quicker recovery time, due to the use of a smaller incision. Maddy experienced this firsthand; her recovery progressed significantly faster than her friend’s, who had the same injury but underwent a different procedure elsewhere.

The Results

Maddy was determined to recover before the six-month mark initially targeted by Dr. Adeleke, and asked as many questions as she could to learn about the procedure itself and the recovery.

Thanks to her dedicated approach, Maddy was walking again eight weeks after surgery. Five months after surgery, she was able to run.

“I am so grateful every day to be able to walk again. When you have that taken away from you, you understand how basic of a necessity it is – and how precious it is,” said Maddy.

She advises other patients to take things day by day and celebrate every win: “I tried to celebrate the little achievements as much as possible because it showed that I was progressing through recovery in a good way.”

In the Surgeon’s Words

“Maddy was incredibly motivated to get back on the softball field as a coach. In her case, the minimally invasive approach was best due to the nature of her injury and her commitment to a quick recovery,” said Dr. Adeleke. “I am thrilled to have helped her get back to doing what she loves.”

From the Patient’s Perspective

“It was clear Dr. Adeleke knew what he was doing – he’s the best at what he does,” said Maddy. “I felt like he was just as determined as I was to get me back to where I was prior to the tear. Knowing that you have somebody who’s in your corner and cares about you makes the experience so much better.”