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Achilles tendon injuries: a comparison of surgical repair versus no repair in a rat model.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Murrell, GA; Lilly, EG; Collins, A; Seaber, AV; Goldner, RD; Best, TM
Published in: Foot Ankle
September 1993

Controversy exists regarding the treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures. The aim of this study was to determine whether surgical repair of the rat Achilles tendon offered any biomechanical, functional, or morphological advantage over no repair. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups: (1) sham operated (skin incision only), (2) no repair (complete division of the Achilles tendon and plantaris tendon without repair), (3) internal splint (plantaris left intact), and (4) Achilles repair (with a modified Kessler-type suture). Functional performance was determined from the measurements of hindpaw prints utilizing the Achilles Functional Index. On day 15, the animals were killed, and biochemical and histological evaluations were performed on both the injured and uninjured Achilles tendon constructs. All groups subjected to Achilles tendon division had a significant initial functional impairment that gradually improved so that by day 15 there were no functional or failure load impairments in any group. The injured tendons in all three groups subjected to Achilles tendon division had a 13-fold increase in the cross-sectional area and were less stiff and more deformable than uninjured and sham-operated tendons on day 15 (P < .001). The magnitude of the biomechanical and morphological changes at postoperative day 15 and the initial impairment and rate of functional recovery were similar for no repair, internal splint, and Achilles repair groups. In summary, this study demonstrates that surgical repair of the Achilles tendon in the rat does not offer any advantage over nonoperative management.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Foot Ankle

DOI

ISSN

0198-0211

Publication Date

September 1993

Volume

14

Issue

7

Start / End Page

400 / 406

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Rupture
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Models, Biological
  • Male
  • Gait
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Achilles Tendon
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Murrell, G. A., Lilly, E. G., Collins, A., Seaber, A. V., Goldner, R. D., & Best, T. M. (1993). Achilles tendon injuries: a comparison of surgical repair versus no repair in a rat model. Foot Ankle, 14(7), 400–406. https://doi.org/10.1177/107110079301400706
Murrell, G. A., E. G. Lilly, A. Collins, A. V. Seaber, R. D. Goldner, and T. M. Best. “Achilles tendon injuries: a comparison of surgical repair versus no repair in a rat model.Foot Ankle 14, no. 7 (September 1993): 400–406. https://doi.org/10.1177/107110079301400706.
Murrell GA, Lilly EG, Collins A, Seaber AV, Goldner RD, Best TM. Achilles tendon injuries: a comparison of surgical repair versus no repair in a rat model. Foot Ankle. 1993 Sep;14(7):400–6.
Murrell, G. A., et al. “Achilles tendon injuries: a comparison of surgical repair versus no repair in a rat model.Foot Ankle, vol. 14, no. 7, Sept. 1993, pp. 400–06. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/107110079301400706.
Murrell GA, Lilly EG, Collins A, Seaber AV, Goldner RD, Best TM. Achilles tendon injuries: a comparison of surgical repair versus no repair in a rat model. Foot Ankle. 1993 Sep;14(7):400–406.

Published In

Foot Ankle

DOI

ISSN

0198-0211

Publication Date

September 1993

Volume

14

Issue

7

Start / End Page

400 / 406

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Rupture
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Models, Biological
  • Male
  • Gait
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Achilles Tendon