Mechanical properties during healing of Achilles tendon ruptures to predict final outcome

Description: Mechanical properties during healing of Achilles tendon ruptures to predict final outcome. A pilot Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis in 10 patients
Thorsten Schepull , Joanna Kvist , Christer Andersson and Per Aspenberg
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2007, 8:116
Results 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. The error of measurement was 0.04 percent units at 18 weeks. There was a large variation between patients, which appears to reflect biological variation. From 6 to 18 weeks, there was a negative correlation between increase in transverse area and increase in material properties, suggesting that healing is regulated at the organ level, to maximize stiffness. Modulus of elasticity during this time correlated with a heel raise index at one year (Rho=0.76; p=0.02).
Conclusion We conclude that the RSA method might have potential for comparing different treatments of Achilles tendon ruptures.