Spain's king recovers after Achilles operation: Palace

MADRID: Spain's King Juan Carlos was discharged from a Madrid health clinic Monday after undergoing a successful Achilles tendon operation on his left foot overnight, medical and palace officials said.

"The procedure went well and the king has already returned to Zarzuela Palace" on the outskirts of Madrid, a palace spokesman said.

"The procedure was carried out successfully after epidural anaesthesia," said a medical bulletin signed by the surgeon who carried out the operation, Angel Villamor and the palace's chief physician, Avelino Barros.

The popular 73-year-old monarch was admitted to Madrid's San Jose clinic for the operation designed to reinforce the tendon by transplanting autologous stem cells and plasma, the bulletin added.

He will now embark on a "long programme of rehabilitation" and will be temporarily immobilised, according to the palace.

Juan Carlos also underwent knee surgery on June 3 and has since been seen in public using a crutch.

Juan Carlos was proclaimed king in 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco who had designated him as successor since 1969.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011