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Erschienen in: Skeletal Radiology 9/2012

01.09.2012 | Scientific Article

Real-time sonoelastography of the Achilles tendon: pattern description in healthy subjects and patients with surgically repaired complete ruptures

verfasst von: Sinan Tan, Savaş Kudaş, Ayşenur Şirin Özcan, Ali İpek, Mustafa Karaoğlanoğlu, Halil Arslan, Murat Bozkurt

Erschienen in: Skeletal Radiology | Ausgabe 9/2012

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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study is to describe the elastographic appearance of the Achilles tendon in healthy subjects and patients with surgically repaired complete ruptures.

Materials and methods

Nineteen Achilles tendons of 16 amateur footballers with surgically repaired complete ruptures and their contralateral asymptomatic Achilles tendons were assessed with ultrasound and real-time sonoelastography. Additionally, 40 asymptomatic Achilles tendons of 20 healthy amateur footballers were assessed. The Achilles tendons were divided into the distal, middle, and proximal thirds for elastographic image evaluation. Tendons were classified into three main types according to the elasticity features: type 1, blue (hardest tissue); type 2, blue/green (hard tissue); or type 3, green (intermediate tissue). In addition, three subtypes were determined: homogeneous, relatively homogeneous, and heterogeneous.

Results

Most of the Achilles tendons of the patients with surgically repaired complete ruptures were detected to have type 2 elasticity (64.9%), and the remaining had type 1 (35.1%). In contrast, most of the healthy tendons had type 2 (64.2%), and the remaining had either a type 3 (20.8%) or a type 1 (15%) elastographic pattern. All of the ruptured tendons had a heterogeneous structure, whereas all of the healthy Achilles tendons had a homogeneous or relatively homogeneous structure.

Conclusion

In sonoelastography, the recognition of normal tendon structure will be useful in assessing pathologies of the Achilles tendon. Additionally, in patients with excellent American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and surgically repaired complete ruptures, a hard and heterogeneous pattern of tendon structure may be a natural consequence of tendon healing.
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Metadaten
Titel
Real-time sonoelastography of the Achilles tendon: pattern description in healthy subjects and patients with surgically repaired complete ruptures
verfasst von
Sinan Tan
Savaş Kudaş
Ayşenur Şirin Özcan
Ali İpek
Mustafa Karaoğlanoğlu
Halil Arslan
Murat Bozkurt
Publikationsdatum
01.09.2012
Verlag
Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in
Skeletal Radiology / Ausgabe 9/2012
Print ISSN: 0364-2348
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-2161
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-011-1339-4

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