Mechanical Properties of Healing Achilles Tendons
Author Information
Author(s): Thorsten Schepull, Joanna Kvist, Christer Andersson, Per Aspenberg
Primary Institution: Section for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Department of Neurosciences and Locomotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
Hypothesis
Can Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) be used to follow the restoration of mechanical properties during healing of ruptured Achilles tendons and predict clinical results?
Conclusion
The RSA method might have potential for comparing different treatments of Achilles tendon ruptures.
Supporting Evidence
- The strain was median 0.90, 0.32 and 0.14 percent per 100 N tendon force at 6 weeks, 18 weeks and one year respectively.
- There was a large variation between patients, reflecting biological variation.
- Modulus of elasticity during this time correlated with a heel raise index at one year (Rho = 0.76; p = 0.02).
Takeaway
This study looked at how Achilles tendons heal after being injured and found that measuring their mechanical properties can help predict how well they will recover.
Methodology
Patients with total Achilles tendon ruptures were studied using RSA with implanted tantalum beads, evaluated at multiple time points post-surgery.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small number of participants and lack of control group.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was a pilot study.
Participant Demographics
10 patients aged 18 to 60, mean age 39, 2 women, all recreational athletes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Statistical Significance
p = 0.02
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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