title: Comparison of the efficacy of three isolated gastrocnemius recession procedures in a cadaveric model of gastrocnemius tightness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many surgical techniques for isolated gastrocnemius recession have been described. The purpose of the present study is to compare their therapeutic efficacy and intrinsic stability on a fresh cadaveric model of gastrocnemius tightness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cadaveric model was established by distracting the knee with spacers composed of low-temperature thermoplastic material, and was identified by the Silfverskiöld test. Procedures of gastrocnemius recession described by Barouk, Baumann and Strayer were performed. The lengthening distance and improvement of ankle dorsiflexion were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ankle angle of the cadaveric models was -15.4° with the knee fully extended, and 8.4° with the knee flexed. The increased angle achieved by the Strayer procedure was significantly greater than that achieved by the Barouk procedure and the Baumann procedure with one cut (P < 0.05), but similar to that of the Baumann procedure with two cuts (P > 0.05). Compared with the intramuscular lengthening of the gastrocnemius (Baumann and Barouk procedures), the stability of the lengthening after the Strayer procedure was the lowest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three techniques of isolated gastrocnemius recession have different efficacy and stability in cadaver trials, depending on their own anatomical characteristics. Our study supplies an anatomical guide for the selection of a proper procedure.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China. robert_rk@126.com.|Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China. robert_rk@126.com.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China.|Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
authors.forename: Xing-chen
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China.|Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
authors.forename: Wen-tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China.|Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China. xu664531@hotmail.com.|Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China. xu664531@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiang-yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
keywords: Biomechanical study; Cadaveric model; Gastrocnemius tightness; Surgical lengthening