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Erschienen in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 7/2016

25.12.2014 | Ankle

Real-time sonoelastography as novel follow-up method in Achilles tendon surgery

verfasst von: A. Busilacchi, M. Olivieri, S. Ulisse, R. Gesuita, E. Skrami, T. Lording, F. Fusini, A. Gigante

Erschienen in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Ausgabe 7/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the sonoelastographic features of Achilles tendon healing after percutaneous treatment using real-time sonoelastography, a new tool able to quantify deformation in biological tissues.

Methods

Patients with atraumatic Achilles tendon ruptures, treated with a percutaneous technique, were assessed. Sonoelastographic evaluations were performed at the myotendinous junction, tendon body/lesion site and osteotendinous junction, both for the operated and contralateral side, at 40 days, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Using standard regions of interest, the “strain index” (SI) was calculated as an indicator of tendon elasticity. Clinical outcomes were assessed by the ATRS questionnaire at 6 months and 1 year post-operatively and correlated with sonoelastographic findings. Sixty healthy tendons from 30 volunteers were used to provide a healthy control range.

Results

Twenty-five patients were recruited for this study. The SI in treated tendons showed progressive stiffening over time, especially at myotendinous junction and at the site of the sutured lesion, resulting in significantly higher stiffness than both the contralateral tendon and healthy volunteers. Peak thickness of treated tendons occurred at 6 months, with a tendency to reduce at 1 year, while never achieving a normal physiological state. Greatest remodelling was seen at the lesion site. The contralateral tendon showed significant thickening at the myotendinous and osteotendinous junctions. The SI of the contralateral tendon was found to be stiffer than physiological values found in the control group. ATRS score improved significantly between 6 months and 1 year, being negatively correlated with the SI (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

RTSE showed that operatively treated Achilles tendons become progressively stiffer during follow-up, while the ATRS score improved. From a biomechanical point of view, at 1 year after surgery Achilles tendons did not show a “restitutio ad integrum”. Real-time sonoelastography provides more qualitative and quantitative details in the diagnostics and follow-up of Achilles tendon conditions as the post-operative evolution of the repairing tissue.

Level of evidence

Diagnostic and therapeutic study, Level III.
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Metadaten
Titel
Real-time sonoelastography as novel follow-up method in Achilles tendon surgery
verfasst von
A. Busilacchi
M. Olivieri
S. Ulisse
R. Gesuita
E. Skrami
T. Lording
F. Fusini
A. Gigante
Publikationsdatum
25.12.2014
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Ausgabe 7/2016
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3484-5

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