Characteristics of Intratendinous Microcirculation Shortly After an Achilles Rupture and Subsequent Treatment Outcomes.
Early microcirculatory responses after experimental tenotomy are critical to the healing of tendons and their ultimate tensile strength. The effects of changes in microcirculation on the outcomes of tendon healing, however, have not been determined.



To assess microcirculation values in injured Achilles tendons in the first 3 months after surgical repair and to correlate the inter-limb microcirculatory changes with functional outcomes at 3 and 6 months after surgery.



Case-control study.



A university sports physiotherapy laboratory.



Thirteen subjects (median age: 45 years; range: 34.8-51.9 years) with a repaired Achilles tendon were recruited.



Surgical repair.



Measurements were obtained at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Bilateral measurements of tendon microcirculation (total hemoglobin [THb] and oxygen saturation [StO2]) were recorded at the first 3 time points, whereas outcome measures of a Taiwan Chinese version of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale-Achilles questionnaire, one-leg hopping distance, the star excursion balance test, and the heel raise index were conducted at the third and fourth time points. Correlations between the inter-limb microcirculatory changes, eg, between the measurements at 2 months and 1 month (2-1) after surgery, at 3 months and 2 months (3-2) after surgery, and at 3 months and 1 month (3-1) after surgery, and the outcome measures were investigated.



Compared with the noninjured tendons, the repaired Achilles demonstrated greater THb (at 1, 2, and 3 months; P = .017, .008, and .012 respectively) and StO2(at 3 months; P = .017). Furthermore, the THb2-1 and THb3-2, StO22-1, and StO23-2 showed correlations with the heel raise index, differences in the star excursion balance test and one-leg hopping distance between the noninjured leg and injured leg, and Taiwan Chinese version of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale-Achilles questionnaire scores (rho -0.921 to 0.855).



Changes in the inter-limb microcirculation shortly after Achilles repair were correlated with subsequent symptoms and functional symmetry.



III.
School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University; and Center of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China(∗).
Yi-Ping
YP
Chang
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China(†).
Kao-Shang
KS
Shih
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China(‡).
Hongsen
H
Chiang
Sports Medicine Department, Orthopedic Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China(§).
Hsiao-Li
HL
Ma
Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedics, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China(¶).
Leou-Chyr
LC
Lin
School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University; and Center of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China(#).
Wei-Chen
WC
Peng
Department of Orthpaedics, Chen Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China(∗∗).
Che-Sheng
CS
Wen
School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University; and Center of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Floor 3, No.17, Xuzhou Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100, Taiwan, Republic of China(††). Electronic address: hkwang@ntu.edu.tw.
Hsing-Kuo
HK
Wang
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000293:injuries*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012421:Rupture; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome