title: Impact of drying and thiel embalming on mechanical properties of achilles tendons.
abstract: Biomechanical research and orthopedic training is regularly carried out on human cadavers. Given the post-mortem decay, these cadavers were usually frozen or embalmed. The embalming method according to Dr. Thiel was often praised for the preservation of natural texture. The main aim of this article was to quantitatively analyze the impact of this embalming technique on the biomechanical properties. To that extent, Achilles tendons (calcaneal tendons) of seven cadavers have been tested. For each cadaver, a first tendon was tested following a fresh-frozen conservation, the other following the Thiel embalming process. The results indicated a significant difference in Young's modulus between both groups (P values = 0.046). The secondary aim of this article was to analyze the impact of exposure to room conditions and associated dehydration on the biomechanical properties of cadaver tissue. Therefore, each tendon was tested before and after 2 hr of exposure to room conditions. The resulting dehydration caused a significant increase of the Young's modulus for the thawed fresh-frozen tendons. The properties of the Thiel embalmed tendons were not significantly altered. In conclusion, this research promoted the use of fresh-frozen specimens for biomechanical testing. Effort should, however, be made to minimize dehydration of the tested specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Matthias André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verstraete
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Der Straeten
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Lepeleere
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Opsomer
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Hoof
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Victor
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003890:Desiccation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004615:Embalming / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: Achilles tendon; drying; fresh frozen; stiffness; thiel embalming