Management of achilles tendon injury: A current concepts systematic review

Achilles tendon rupture has been on the rise over recent years due to a variety of reasons. It is a debilitating injury with a protracted and sometimes incomplete recovery. Management strategy is a controversial topic and evidence supporting a definite approach is limited. Opinion is divided between surgical repair and conservative immobilisation in conjunction with functional orthoses. A systematic search of the literature was performed. Pubmed, Medline and EmB ase databases were searched for Achilles tendon and a variety of synonymous terms. A recent wealth of reporting suggests that conservative regimens with early weight bearing or mobilisation have equivalent or improved rates of re-rupture to operative regimes. The application of dynamic ultrasound assessment of tendon gap may prove crucial in minimising re-rupture and improving outcomes. Studies employing functional assessments have found equivalent function between operative and conservative treatments. However, no specific tests in peak power, push off strength or athletic performance have been reported and whether an advantage in operative treatment exists remains undetermined.

Novel insights into the pathogenesis of tendon injury:mechanotransduction and neuroplasticity

Tendon pathology is characterized by damage to the tendon structural integrity with disruption of collagen fibers(Nourissat et al.,2015).Acute tendon injuries show a macroscopic discontinuity,ranging from partial to complete tendon rupture.They involve inflammation and lead to loss of motion.In chronic conditions(or tendinopathy),symptoms include changes in both locomotor and sensorial functions of the tendon(Nourissat et al.,2015;Scott et al.,2020).Inconsistency in terminology for cases of painful tendon disorders is found,but recently the term tendinopathy was established in consensus as preferable for cases with persistent tendon pain and loss of function related to mechanical loading.This term excludes a problem in clinical practice-i.e.,specification of the presence of a particular pathological or biochemical process(Scott et al.,2020).

Footfall patterns of a runner with an Achilles tendon rupture

Purpose: This study aims to compare the load and the length of previously ruptured and healthy Achilles tendon(AT) of a recreational runner who used different footfall patterns on each limb during running.Methods: A 41-year-old recreational athlete with a ruptured AT participated in this report. Two force plates and a high-speed motion capture system were used to collect ground reaction force and kinematic data in shod and barefoot running conditions. AT length was measured using ultrasonography and an infrared camera system. AT force was estimated as the active plantar flexion moment divided by AT moment arm during stance phase.Results: The participant used a rearfoot pattern on the affected limb and a forefoot/midfoot pattern on the unaffected limb during shod running,and a forefoot/midfoot pattern during barefoot running. There was no difference between the length of the affected and the unaffected AT. During shod running, the maximal AT force and loading rate were lower in the affected AT versus the unaffected AT. During barefoot running, the affected maximal AT force and loading rate were greater than the unaffected AT.Conclusion: Footfall patterns can be an adaptation to reduce the loading on a previously injured AT. It appears that runners may consider using a rearfoot footfall pattern during running to reduce the stress on the AT.

Mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of tendon disorders

Tendon disorders are associated with increased morbidity and a reduction in the quality of life, especially in people of working age. Recently, a new approach, cell-based therapy, offers promising potential to treat tendon injuries. Mesenchymal stem cells are the most suitable candidates for such therapies due to their capacity to differentiate into cells of mesodermal origin, their paracrine properties and their potential use in autologous transplantation. This review summarizes experimental as well as clinical data focusing on the use of mesenchymal stem cells to treat tendinophaties.

Dynamic Observation on the Effects of Different Suture Techniques on the Biomechanical Properties in the Healing of Tendons

Summary： To identify the best suture techniques for the tendon repair, the biomechanical properties of tendons sutured by different methods were dynamically examined. 140 chickens were divided into 2 groups equally： group A and group B. The tendon of the right side was subjected to injury-repair process, and the tendons of the left sides served as controls in both groups. In group A, ＂figure-of- 8＂ suture, modified Kessler suture and Bunnell suture were used for the 2nd to 4th paws respectively, while in group B, Kleinert suture, Tsuge suture and Ikuta suture were used. On the day 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 after operation, 10 animals were sacrificed and the flexor tendons of both sides were harvested for strength test. The results showed that the initial strength of the repaired tendons and the strength after 6 weeks following tendon cut were far below those of intact tendons, irrespective of suture techniques used. With the 6 techniques, the P of tendons repaired by Tsuge suture was increased continually, reaching the highest value on the 42nd day. The P of tendons sutured by the modified Kessler suture was slightly lower than that by Tsuge suture, but it was increased steadily in healing. The tendons repaired by figure-of-8 suture yielded the lowest P It was concluded that Tsuge suture and modified Kessler suture were the best techniques for tendon repair.

Tendon injuries of the hand

Tendon injuries are the second most common injuries of the hand and therefore an important topic in trauma and orthopedic patients.Most injuries are open injuries to the flexor or extensor tendons,but less frequent injuries,e.g.,damage to the functional system tendon sheath and pulley or dull avulsions,also need to be considered.After clinical examination,ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have proved to be important diagnostic tools.Tendon injuries mostly require surgical repair,dull avulsions of the distal phalanges extensor tendon can receive conservative therapy.Injuries of the flexor tendon sheath or single pulley injuries are treated conservatively and multiple pulley injuries receive surgical repair.In the postoperative course offlexor tendon injuries,the principle of early passive movement is important to trigger an"intrinsic"tendon healing to guarantee a good outcome.Many substances were evaluated to see if they improved tendon healing;however,little evidence was found.Nevertheless,hyaluronic acid may improve intrinsic tendon healing.

Reconstruction of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Using Hamstring Tendon Graft With Different Methods:a Biomechanical Study

Objective To measure the tensile strength of the normal medial patellofemoral ligament(MPFL),and evaluate the biomechanics of different fixation methods of the hamstring tendon graft on the patella.Methods Eight fresh cadaver knees were prepared by isolating the patella,leaving only the MPFL as its attachment to the medial condyle of femur.The MPFL was reconstructed by three different methods:four-suture fixation,anchors-single suture fixation,and anchors-double suture fixation.The tensile strength and the elongation of the normal MPFL and the tendon grafts were measured.Results The tensile strength of the four-suture fixation group(234.86±49.02 N)was stronger than that of the normal MPFL(146.91±25.30 N,P=0.0014)and the anchors-single suture group(159.17±49.07N,P=0.0077),while weaker than that of the anchors-double suture group(314.74±78.46 N,P=0.0052)Conclusions With regard to the tensile strength,the four-suture fixation method is reliable for clinical use.Compared with the anchor-suture method,the four-suture fixation method which has no specific implants is more economical,convenient and efficient.

Rupture of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon near the musculotendinous junction in a young patient: A case report

We report an unusual case of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon rupture near the musculotendinous junction in a young patient.The injury occurred in a young athlete during sports competition.The clinical presentation,surgical treatment,and technique with tenodesis using a unicortical button of the ruptured tendon were presented.The post-surgical recovery was uneventful,and the patient returned to sports in 6 mo.The treatment approach and surgical technique of the long head of biceps brachii rupture was reviewed and discussed.In conclusion,surgical treatment of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon rupture with unicortical button tenodesis resulted in a favorable outcome in a young athlete.

Benefits of the Combined Use of NSAID and Early Exercise on Tendon Healing in a Murine Model

Achilles tendon rupture is one of the most frequent tendon injuries. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and of aerobic exercise, in an isolated fashion and combined, on cell proliferation and on the biomechanical aspects of the Achilles tendon during healing process after a complete tenotomy in 156 male Wistar rats. Half of the animals received an intra-muscular injection of tenoxicam for 7 days and exercise was initiated on the 8th day for half the animals of each group. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after the tenotomy and cell proliferation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for PCNA, biomechanical evaluation was performed with ultimate load and gait cycle analysis was also carried out. Animals were divided into four treatment groups: A) no NSAID and no exercise (control group);B) NSAID plus exercise;C) no NSAID, with exercise;D) NSAID and no exercise. We used the test of two-way analysis of variance with equal cells number, Kruskal-Wallis test and also, Bonferroni method, in the R Project program 3.5.0. The highest intensity of PCNA immunostaining was found at 2 weeks in all groups except for group A (control) that had the highest intensity at 1 week. Animals submitted to exercise had significantly higher (P = 0.02) ultimate loads when compared to animals that were not submitted to exercise at 8 weeks after injury. The animals that received NSAID presented with a more stable gait cycle than the animals that did not receive NSAID. Aerobic exercise, initiated early after a complete Achilles tendon tenotomy, was beneficial to the biomechanical aspects of the tendon that occur during tendon regeneration and the combined use of NSAID improved the gait’s characteristics which could be protective against re-ruptures.

Achilles Tendon Rupture with Isolated Medial Malleolar Fracture in Ipsilateral Ankle:A Case Report

Achilles tendon ruptures and malleol fractures are commonly seen injuries in orthopaedic and traumatology practice, but what is rare is their concomitant. In this report, we aimed to present a rare case of a patient who has isolated medial malleolar fracture and achilles tendon rupture in ipsilateral ankle after an ankle sprain due to a fall from stairs and mechanism of injury.

Early mobilization program and rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair

Objective To investigate the methods and significance of early mobilization to the function rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair.Methods 286 complete flexor tendon amputation in 116 cases which was not combined with fractures were repaired.From the third day after operation,the digits were mobilized with a combination of assisted passive flexion and active extension simultaneously in the first 4 weeks.The digits flexing and extending scope was increased gradually controlled by doctors.Unassisted active flexion extension exercises begun 4 weeks after operation.The injured fingers were given physical therapy of voice band therapy 4 weeks postoperatively,ultrashort wave treatment 4 weeks and wax hot therapy 6 week postoperatively.Patients were followed up once weekly to be instructed how to go on functional training after they were discharged.Results Patients were followed up from 6 to 18 months.The function recovery of the corresponding fingers was evaluated by TAM method which included 192 excellent digits(77.1%),25 fine digits(10.0%),15 normal digits(6.0%) and 17 bad digits (6.8%).Conclusion It was inevitable for the repaired tendon to be adhered to the around tissue.Early mobilization of relevant injured fingers could enhance formation of non limited adhesion,increase excursion of the reconditioned tendon and revert tendon intensity at early time.Early mobilization should begin at 3 days after operation.

Stepping up after spinal cord injury:negotiating an obstacle during walking

Every day walking consists of frequent voluntary modifications in the gait pattern to negotiate obstacles.After spinal cord injury,stepping over an obstacle becomes challenging.Stepping over an obstacle requires sensorimotor transformations in several structures of the brain,including the parietal cortex,premotor cortex,and motor cortex.Sensory information and planning are transformed into motor commands,which are sent from the motor cortex to spinal neuronal circuits to alter limb trajectory,coordinate the limbs,and maintain balance.After spinal cord injury,bidirectional communication between the brain and spinal cord is disrupted and animals,including humans,fail to voluntarily modify limb trajectory to step over an obstacle.Therefore,in this review,we discuss the neuromechanical control of stepping over an obstacle,why it fails after spinal cord injury,and how it recovers to a certain extent.

Ultrasound in Assessment of Supraspinatus Tendon Injury： Correlation with Arthroscopy

INTRODUCTIONRotator cuffinjuries are common in all athletic. Of all rotator cuff injuries, the supraspinatus tendon involves mostly. Severe supraspinatus tendon injury may affect the patient＇s quality of life. However, supraspinatus tendon injury can be relatively asymptomatic in some cases and may require sonographic examination for diagnosis, With continued improvement in shoulder arthroscopy, surgical treatment for supraspinatus tendon injury has become more effective and less invasive.

Advances in the application of hydrogel-based scaffolds for tendon repair

Tendon injuries often lead to joint dysfunction due to the limited self-regeneration capacity of tendons.Repairing tendons is a major challenge for surgeons and imposes a signif-icant financial burden on society.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop effective stra-tegies for repairing injured tendons.Tendon tissue engineering using hydrogels has emerged as a promising approach that has attracted considerable interest.Hydrogels possess excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability,enabling them to create an extracellular matrix-like growth environment for cells.They can also serve as a carrier for cells or other substances to accelerate tendon repair.In the past decade,numerous studies have made significant prog-ress in the preparation of hydrogel scaffolds for tendon healing.This review aims to provide an overview of recent research on the materials of hydrogel-based scaffolds used for tendon tis-sue engineering and discusses the delivery systems based on them.

Interactions of primary insult biomechanics and secondary cascades in spinal cord injury： implications for therapy

The complex and variable nature of traumatic spinal cord inju- ry （SCI） presents a unique challenge for translational research. SCI is not bound by any demographic nor is it limited to specific injury biomechanics.

Brain Injury Biomechanics and Abusive Head Trauma

Contemporary biomechanical theory of traumatic brain injury has its foundation in Holbourn’s thesis on shear strain and Ommaya’s primate experimentation demonstrating the role of rotation in a variety of lesions including subdural hematoma(SDH)and diffuse axonal injury.Empirical human observations have since confirmed,for the most part,the early concepts.Ethical concerns regarding primate research,however,have prompted in vitro models,which in turn has led to challenges with respect to the correlation between in vitro observations and the clinical data.Despite these challenges,medicolegal proceedings may call upon biomechanical engineers to reconstruct complex injury scenarios and offer opinions on the scientific plausibility of clinical disease states,such as SDH,hemorrhagic retinopathy,and cerebral edema,associated with hypothetical or proffered action sequences during the course of an unwitnessed homicide.It is important to note,however,that in vitro models by their nature are low‑evidence quality studies that attempt to advance hypotheses but do not address cause and effect.As a whole,biomechanical models,as they pertain specifically to the brain and spine,are mathematically imprecise.Often,endpoints of limited relevance are relied upon(e.g.,skull fracture thresholds),which predictably overestimate the in vivo risk of significant injury.Given the increasing role of biomechanical engineering in the interpretation of fatal pediatric head trauma,a heightened awareness of the limitations warranted.

Piezo1 as a potential player in intracranial hemorrhage:From perspectives on biomechanics and hematoma metabolism

Intracranial hemorrhage(ICH)causes numerous neurological deficits and deaths worldwide each year,leaving a significant health burden on the public.The pathophysiology of ICH is complicated and involves both primary and secondary injuries.Hematoma,as the primary pathology of ICH,undergoes metabolism and triggers biochemical and biomechanical alterations in the brain,leading to the secondary injury.Past endeavors mainly aimed at biochemical-initiated mechanisms for causing secondary injury,which have made limited progress in recent years,although ICH itself is also highly biomechanics-related.The discovery of the mechanically-activated cation channel Piezo1 provides a new avenue to further explore the mechanisms underlying the secondary injury.The current article reviews the structure and gating mechanisms of Piezo1,its roles in the physiology/pathophysiology of neurons,astrocytes,microglia,and bone-marrow-derived macrophages,and especially its roles in erythrocytic turnover and iron metabolism,revealing a potential interplay between the biomechanics and biochemistry of hematoma in ICH.Collectively,these advances provide deeper insights into the secondary injury of ICH and lay the foundations for future research.

Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction improves tendon healing in rabbits

Objective： To evaluate the potential effects of uncultured adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction on tendon healing. Methods： Twenty five adult male New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2.5-3.0 kg were used. Five rabbits were used as donors of adipose tissue and the rest were divided into control and treatment groups. The injury model was completed by unilateral tenotomy through the middle one third of deep digital flexor tendon. Immediately after suture repair, either fresh stromal vascular fraction from enzymatic digestion of adipose tissue or placebo was intratendinously injected at tendon stumps in treatment and control groups, respectively. Immobilization with cast was continued for two weeks after surgery. Animals were sacrificed at eight weeks after surgery and tendons underwent histological, immunohistochemical, and mechanical evaluations. Statistical analyses of quantitative and qualitative data were assessed using one-way analysis of variance and MannWhitney U-test, respectively. Results： Histological evaluations demonstrated superior fibrillar linearity and continuity, and decreased vascularity in treatment group indicated improved organization and remodeling of neotendons. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a significant increase in collagen I expression in treatment group. Ultimate load and energy absorption capacity were both significantly increased in cell-treated repairs compared with controls. Conclusion： The present study shows that intratendinous injection of uncultured adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction results in improved structural and mechanical properties of tendon repairs and it could be an effective modality for treating tendon injury.

理筋手法调控兔骨骼肌损伤修复中瘢痕形成的作用机制

背景:理筋手法能够促进骨骼肌修复,治疗骨骼肌损伤。但骨骼肌损伤在修复过程中的纤维化形成、瘢痕组织增生等与损伤修复质量密切相关。开展理筋手法对纤维化形成、瘢痕组织增生的调控作用研究,有利于阐述理筋手法提高骨骼肌损伤修复质量的相关机制。目的:探索理筋手法提高兔骨骼肌损伤后修复质量的作用机制,为临床治疗提供科学依据。方法:45只健康成年日本大耳白兔随机分为空白组、模型组、理筋组,每组15只。其中模型组和理筋组均进行腓肠肌打击造模;造模后理筋组于第3天开始进行理筋手法干预,1次/d,15 min/次。各组在造模后的第7,14,21天分别处死5只兔进行观察。苏木精-伊红染色法观察腓肠肌形态及炎性细胞量,Masson染色法观察腓肠肌胶原纤维量,ELISA法检测腓肠肌白细胞介素6和白细胞介素10的表达量,Western blot和RT-PCR检测配对盒基因7、成肌分化因子、肌细胞生成素、肌动蛋白α、转化生长因子β1、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白的蛋白及mRNA表达,免疫组织化学法检测Ⅰ型胶原蛋白的表达。结果与结论:①苏木精-伊红染色及Masson染色结果显示,与模型组比较,理筋组各观察点炎性细胞浸润减少,胶原纤维量减少(P<0.01),肌纤维逐渐愈合;②ELISA结果显示,与模型组比较,理筋组白细胞介素6表达持续降低(P<0.05),而白细胞介素10在造模后第7天时升高(P<0.05),随后呈下降趋势(P<0.05);③Western blot和RT-PCR结果显示,与模型组比较,理筋组造模后第14天配对盒基因7、成肌分化因子、肌细胞生成素的蛋白及mRNA表达量均显著升高(P<0.05),而第21天时却较之前下降(P<0.05);理筋组各观察点肌动蛋白α、转化生长因子β1、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白的蛋白及mRNA表达量相较于模型组均显著降低(P<0.05);④免疫组化结果显示,理筋组各观察点Ⅰ型胶原蛋白的表达量相较于模型组均显著降低(P<0.05);⑤结果表明,理筋手法能够通过抑制炎症、促进肌卫星细胞的增殖分化、减少纤维化的生成,从而提高兔骨骼肌损伤的修复质量。

Outcomes and complications of operative versus non-operative treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture： a meta-analysis

Background There is lack of consensus regarding the best option for the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture- operation or non-operation. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify and summarize the randomized controlled trials comparing the operative and non-operative lines of treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Methods We searched multiple databases in English （including EMBASE, PubMed, and OVID） and in Chinese （including CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP）, as well as reference lists of articles and main orthopaedic and sports medical journals. Two reviewers independently screened the studies for eligibility, evaluated the quality and extracted data from eligible studies, with confirmation by cross-checking. The major results and conclusions were concluded, and the different complication rates and functional outcomes were compared. Meta-analysis was processed by RevMan 5.0 software. Results Eight randomized controlled trials （RCTs） involving 777 patients met the inclusion criteria. The rerupture rate in non-operative group was significantly higher （Z=3.33, P 〈0.01）. However, the moderate （Z--4.27, P 〈0.01） and minor （Z--5.59, P 〈0.01） complication rate in the operative group were significantly higher. No significant difference in comparing the major and total complication rates. The return to work time in the operative group was shorter （Z=2.65, P 〈0.01）. The inability to return to previous level sporting rate and ankle joint decreased range of motion （ROM） rate showed no significant difference in the two groups. Other functional outcomes were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Operation could significantly reduce the risk of rerupture; however, it was associated with a higher risk of other complications. The functional outcomes were similar in two treatment methods except an earlier return to work in patients treated operatively. Thus operative treatment is preferable for patients with good physical condition. Non-operative treatment is an acceptable alternative especially for the older and patients with lower sporting requirements.