Comparative analysis of pathological structure between acute closed and open Achilles tendon rupture / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the morphological, histological and ultrastructural changes of acute closed rupture of Achilles tendon, in order to clarify the pathological basis of the injury and to explore the significance.@*METHODS@#From January 2015 to January 2019, 35 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture who underwent the minimally invasive Achilles tendon suture technique were retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 12 cases in acute open Achilles tendon rupture group included 10 males and 2 females, with an average age of (35.1±9.7) years old ranging from 19 to 50, and the time from injury to operation was 2 to 8 hours with an average of(5.6±1.8);23 cases in acute closed Achilles tendon rupture group included 21 males and 2 females, with an average age of (35.5±6.6) years old ranging from 18 to 50, and the time from injury to operation was 3 to 15 hours with an average of (7.5±3.1). The gross appearance and imaging findings of the broken end of Achilles tendon tissue in the two groups were compared by naked eye observation and foot and ankle MRI at 4 to 6 hours before operation. HE staining, scanning and fluoroscopic electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry(Sirius red staining) were performed on the intraoperative Achilles tendon tissue specimens at 1 to 2 days after operation, the collagen fiber degeneration and local fat infiltration, collagen fiber shape, cell morphology and function, and the distribution of typeⅠand type Ⅲ collagen fibers in Achilles tendon were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the acute open Achilles tendon rupture group, the acute closed Achilles tendon rupture group had poor elasticity, hard texture, moderate edema, irregular shape of Achilles tendon broken end, horsetail shape, and more calcification around the broken end. HE staining results:the collagen fibers in the Achilles tendon of the acute open Achilles tendon rupture group were arranged irregularly, with hyaline degeneration and fat infiltration;The results of electron microscopy showed that collagen arranged disorderly and fibroblasts atrophied in the acute closed Achilles tendon rupture group. Immunohistochemical(Sirius staining) results:the proportion of collagenⅠin the acute open Achilles tendon rupture group and the acute closed Achilles tendon rupture group was(91.12±4.34)% and(54.71±17.78)% respectively, and the proportion of collagen Ⅲ was (8.88±4.34)% and (45.29±17.78)% respectively. The content of collagenⅠin the acute closed Achilles tendon rupture group was lower than that in the acute open Achilles tendon rupture group, and the content of collagen Ⅲ in the acute closed Achilles tendon rupture group was higher than that in the acute open Achilles tendon rupture group(P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The morphology, histology and ultrastructure of the acute closed ruptured Achilles tendon are significantly altered compared with the normal Achilles tendon. The original fine and orderly spatial structure cannot be maintained, part of collagen Ⅰ is replaced by collagen Ⅲ, and the toughness and strength of the tendon tissue decreased, which may be the feature of degeneration of the Achilles tendon and an important pathological basis for closed Achilles tendon rupture.

Efficacy of Baxian Xiaoyaotang Against Ankylosis of Wind-Cold-Dampness Obstruction Syndrome After Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgery and Its Influences on TGF-β1， IGF-1， and EGF / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of Baxian Xiaoyaotang （BXT） in treating ankylosis of wind-cold-dampness obstruction syndrome after acute Achilles tendon rupture surgery and its effects on transforming growth factor-<italic>β</italic>₁ （TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁）， insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1）， and epidermal growth factor （EGF）. Method:According to the visiting sequence， 66 patients with fresh closed Achilles tendon rupture were included and randomly divided into a treatment group （<italic>n</italic>=33） and a control group （<italic>n</italic>=33）. Patients in both groups underwent surgical repair， followed by immobilization in long-leg brace， which was then replaced by the boot brace in the fourth week， with the plantar-flexion angle adjusted correspondingly. Six weeks later， the brace was removed for accelerated functional rehabilitation training. On this basis， patients in the treatment group were further instructed to fumigate and wash the affected Achilles tendon with BXT， twice a day， for 45 d. The Leppilahti Achilles tendon performance scores and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society （AOFAS） ankle-hindfoot scores between the two groups were compared at the time of brace removal and the third， sixth， and twelfth months after surgery. The strength of triceps surae on the affected side was evaluated at the last follow-up visit. The serum TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁， IGF-1， and EGF levels were detected before and after treatment. The wind-cold-dampness obstruction syndrome scores， symptom scores， the changes in foot dorsiflexion angle， and the overall clinical efficacy were compared. Result:The changes in scores of patients receiving different treatment measures did not synchronize. After the removal of brace， the Leppilahti Achilles tendon performance score and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score determined at three time points in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. At the last follow-up visit， the good-to-excellent rate of muscle strength in the treatment group was 93.94% （31/33）， higher than 72.73% （24/33） in the control group （χ²=0.031，<italic>P</italic><0.05）， implying that the strength of triceps surae in the treatment group was better recovered. After treatment， the serum TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁， IGF-1， and EGF levels in both groups were increased in contrast to those before treatment （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and these levels in the treatment group were all higher than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The foot dorsiflexion angle and the wind-cold-dampness obstruction syndrome score in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The overall response rate of the treatment group was 90.91% （30/33）， higher than 75.76% （25/33） of the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=6.981， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. No adverse reactions occurred during the treatment. Conclusion:The external fumigation and washing with BXT alleviates both the clinical symptoms and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome， improves the joint function score， triceps surae strength， and other indicators， elevates the serum TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁， IGF-1， and EGF levels， and enhances the strength and toughness of Achilles tendon of patients with ankylosis due to wind-cold-dampness obstruction after the acute Achilles tendon rupture surgery. Its clinical efficacy is better than that of functional rehabilitation training.

Research progress of early postoperative rehabilitation for acute Achilles tendon rupture after surgical repair / 中国修复重建外科杂志

Objective: To summarize the latest research progress of early postoperative rehabilitation for acute Achilles tendon rupture after surgical repair. Methods: The high-quality randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews/meta-analyses regarding early postoperative rehabilitation for acute Achilles tendon rupture in recent years were reviewed. Results: There are three functional rehabilitations after acute Achilles tendon rupture surgery, including early postoperative mobilization, early weight-bearing with immobilization, and early weight-bearing combined with mobilization. The results of randomized controlled trials show that the effectiveness of early postoperative rehabilitation is similar or better than the early postoperative immobilization. The results of systematic reviews/meta-analyses show that the early postoperative rehabilitation is beneficial to the early function recovery of the Achilles tendon, can reduce the time for functional recovery, and do not adversely affect the outcomes. Conclusion: Early postoperative rehabilitation is beneficial to the functional recovery, and do not increase postoperative complications. There is still no uniform protocol of early postoperative rehabilitation and the timing of weight-bearing, and further studies are needed in the future.

Effectiveness of modified suture technique in treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture / 中国修复重建外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of modified suture technique in the treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.

Recovery of Muscle Power Following Early Weight-Bearing and Ankle Exercise after Surgical Repair of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of early functional treatment after surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture and to evaluate the isokinetic and isometric concentric plantar flexion peak torque and muscle endurance. We wanted to provide objective results of the functional improvement and the effect of early rehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On a retrospective basis, we studied 52 cases of acute Achilles tendon rupture who visited our clinic between March 2007 and August 2009. Eleven patients (9 male, 2 female) were available for the follow-up more than 12 months and their mean final follow-up duration was 18.2 (12 to 39) months. We performed early weight-bearing and ankle exercise after surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture. At final follow-up, patients were evaluated with clinical and functional examination using Arner-Lindholm scale and American Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale and patients' subjective satisfaction. In addition, the isokinetic and isometric concentric plantar flexion peak torque and muscle endurance were evaluated. RESULTS: Evaluating the clinical results using the Arner-Lindholm scale, we had 4 excellent cases and 7 good cases. The average AOFAS score was 88.9 (68 to 100) points at final follow-up. The patients' subjective satisfaction was excellent in 5 cases and good in 6 cases. The isokinetic concentric plantar flexion peak torque was restored to 92.2% (30degrees/sec) and 97.0% (120degrees/sec) in relation to the intact side at final follow-up. The isometric concentric plantar flexion peak torque was restored to 89.4% at 10o dorsiflexion, 84.4% at neutral, and 84.0% at 20degrees plantar flexion of the ankle position in relation to the intact side. The muscle endurance of ankle plantar flexor was 62.37% for the intact side and 59.16% for the injured side that there was no difference between the intact and injured side (p=0.79). CONCLUSION: The clinical results and the satisfactory restoration of muscle power and endurance support early full weight bearing and exercise as an acceptable form of rehabilitation.