I know two people who had ruptured tendons, one had a cast and one had surgery and a cast. Why the different treatments?

Ruptured tendons can be treated with surgery or without. Generally, it is accepted that the tendon repairs better with surgery and lasts longer, but sometimes surgery is not an option.

All surgeries have risks, such as infection. As well, if someone has a particular illness that could make surgery riskier, his or her doctor may wish to try to fix the tendon non-operatively first.