title: Histological Changes in the Proximal and Distal Tendon Stumps Following Transection of Achilles Tendon in the Rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine tendon stump changes following unrepaired Achilles tendon lacerations in an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 2013 to January 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arabbit model was developed and studied tendon retraction and histological changes in the proximal and distal stumps following transection of the Achilles tendon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a period of 12 weeks, retraction of the distal tendon stump was minimal (2 - 3 mm). In contrast, retraction of the proximal tendon stump peaked to reach 6 mm at 4 weeks post-injury and plateaued to reach 7 - 8 mm at the 12-week interval.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following complete transection of the Achilles tendon, tendon retraction correlated with the density of myofibroblast expression within the tendon stump. Further research is needed to investigate the pathophysiology of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Qattan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ola Helmi
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Mawlana
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Raeesa Abdel-Twab
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mohammed Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hawary
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D022125:Lacerations / Q000209:etiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery