ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2007 April;58(2):107-14

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

Comparison of stiffness resulting from different surgical methods of repair of Achilles tendon rupture

Bisciotti G. N. ^{1, 2}, Capellu M. ³, Hidalgo J. M. ⁴, Combi F. ¹, Benazzo F. ⁴

¹ Faculty of Sports Medicine Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France 2 Kinemovecenter, Pontremoli, Italy 3 Clinic of Orthopedics University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy 4 Clinic of Orthopedics and Traumatology University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

Aim. The aim of the study was to verify changes to the elastic characteristics of the Achilles tendon after the rupture and surgical repair.
Methods. Nine subjects (group G1) underwent an operation following a tenorrhaphy technique, and 9 subjects (group G2) used the Ma and Griffith technique. A series of monopedal jumps were made on an electronic platform, with the injured and the healthy limb; the stiffness of the tendon (S), the height reached from the gravity center (H gc) and the power (P) of jumps were calculated.
Results. In the G1 group the value S of the injured limb was 0.35±16.47% higher than in the healthy limb (statistically NS). In the G2 group the S of the injured limb was 6.10+7.64% higher than in the healthy limb (P<0.05). In both groups H gc, in the injured limb, was respectively equal to 72.76±19.68% (P<0.05) and 77.61±12.41% (P< 0.01) of the healthy limb. The P in the injured limb was 80.98±13.39% of the healthy limb in the G1 group (P<0.05) and 82.81±9.16% in the G2 group (P<0.01).
Conclusion. Independently of the surgical technique, there is a change to the tendon elastic characteristics which causes a decrease in tendon mechanical work.