An Achilles Tendinopathy Educational Intervention for Generalist Physicians Raises Awareness and Improves Knowledge for Treating Ballet Dancers

BACKGROUND

Achilles tendinopathy can be a devastating condition in ballet dancers. Initial medical evaluation is frequently conducted by generalist physicians, who may lack the perspective of dance and sports medicine focused training and often prescribe complete rest for chronic overuse injuries. In order to provide targeted information about Achilles tendinopathy and the unique needs of elite athletes, such as ballet dancers, we designed an educational intervention that covers relevant anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, clinical presentation and evaluation, and recommendations for initial treatment and sub-specialty referral. The objectives of this study were to determine baseline understanding of Achilles tendinopathy by generalist physicians and to evaluate the efficacy of an educational intervention on their knowledge.

METHODS

This was a prospective pre- post-test study, to measure improvement in knowledge about Achilles tendinopathy. Emergency Medicine and Primary Care physicians participated in an educational intervention with didactic and hands-on components. Data were analyzed using a two-tailed t-test.

RESULTS

Twenty generalist physicians participated. There was significant improvement in their knowledge of Achilles tendinopathy for all our educational objectives (Pre-test: 59% correct answers; post-test: 79% correct answers; P < .0001; 95% CI: 6.32-10.78.).

CONCLUSIONS

A brief educational intervention leads to increased knowledge of Achilles tendinopathy in generalist physicians. By increasing awareness of Achilles tendinopathy through a standard educational model, we propose that our curriculum can be portable and accessible to all health care providers who encounter dancers and other athletes with Achilles tendinopathy and may serve as a model for expanded education to generalists about other conditions commonly encountered in ballet dancers.

Workflow assessing the effect of Achilles tendon rupture on gait function and metatarsal stress: Combined musculoskeletal modeling and finite element analysis

Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) incidence has increased among badminton players in recent years. The foot internal stress was hard to obtain through experimental testing. The purpose of the current research is to develop a methodology that could improve the finite element model derived foot internal stress prediction for ATR clinical and rehabilitation applications. A subject-specific musculoskeletal model was combined with a 3D finite element model to predict the metatarsal stress. The 80% point during the push-off phase of walking was selected for the comparing between injured and uninjured sides. The surgical repaired Achilles tendon (AT) after 12 months was elongated by 5.5% than the uninjured tendon. At 80% point of stance phase, the ankle plantarflexion angle and AT force decreased by 39.6% and 21.9% on the injured side, respectively. The foot inversion degree increased by 22.9% and was accompanied by the redistribution of metatarsals von Mises stress. The stresses on the fourth and fifth metatarsals were increased by 59.5% and 85.9% on the injured side. The workflow is available to assess musculoskeletal disorders and obtain foot internal stress after ATR. The decreased ankle plantar flexor force may be affected by triceps surae muscle atrophy and weakened force transmission ability of elongated AT. The increased von Mises stress on fourth and fifth metatarsals accompanied by higher foot inversion may increase the ankle lateral sprain injury risk.

Association between matrix metalloproteinase-3 gene polymorphisms and tendon-ligament injuries: evidence from a meta-analysis

Background

Tendon-ligament injuries (TLIs), including Achilles tendinopathy, cruciate ligament injury, tennis elbow, rotator cuff injury, patellar tendinopathy, and tibial tendinopathy, are common musculoskeletal soft injuries during physical activity. Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) gene polymorphisms have been implicated in the etiology of TLIs in several genetic association studies with inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to collect and synthesize the current evidences on the association of MMP-3 polymorphisms and TLIs.

Methods

The search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wanfang databases, prior to July, 2021. Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to appraise the study quality. Strengths of association were represented by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results

Thirteen studies with 2871 cases and 4497 controls met the eligibility criteria, and each study was in high quality. The overall analyzes suggested rs3025058 was associated with an increased TLIs risk (5A vs. 6A, OR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.40, P = 0.020). However, the association was not found for rs679620, rs591058, and rs650108 polymorphisms. Subgroup analysis by injury type suggested that rs679620 polymorphism was associated with a reduced risk to Achilles tendon rupture (AA + AG vs. GG, OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.25–0.87, P = 0.020), and rs3025058 was associated with an elevated risk to anterior cruciate ligament injury (5A5A + 5A6A vs. 6A6A, OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.03–2.06, P = 0.030). When stratified by ethnicity, the findings indicated that rs3025058 polymorphism was associated with an increased TLIs risk among Caucasians (5A6A vs. 6A6A, OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.09–2.42, P = 0.020) and Brazilians (5A5A vs. 5A6A + 6A6A, OR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.44–5.45, P = 0.002).

Conclusion

Findings of this study suggest that rs679620 polymorphism is associated with a reduced Achilles tendon rupture risk, and rs3025058 polymorphism contributes to an increased TLIs risk in Caucasians and Brazilians. However, rs591058 and rs650108 polymorphisms do not show any association with TLIs.

Triple Hemisection Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Lengthening for Severe Ankle Joint Deformity

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of modified percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening for severe ankle joint deformity.

Methods

This retrospective case series study included 33 patients with an average age of 25.2 years who underwent surgery in our hospital from April 1, 2010 to March 1, 2018. Triple hemisection percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening was performed. One stage surgery, other soft tissue surgery or bone correction surgery could be performed. After surgery, a plaster cast was used to fix the functional position, and rehabilitation training was carried out as planned. Complications during the perioperative period were recorded. Statistical analysis of the patients' visual analogue scale (VAS) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score before and at the last follow‐up was performed. The recurrence rate of Achilles tendon contracture at the last follow‐up and the patients' satisfaction rate were investigated.

Results

All patients were followed up, with an average follow‐up period of 56.31 months (8–104 months). All achieved good ankle joint function and appearance improvement And there were no infection or skin necrosis complications. In two cases, the incision was poorly healed at non‐Achilles tendon site and was cured by change of dressing. The average VAS score at the last follow‐up was reduced from (2 ± 1.48) points before surgery to (0.26 ± 0.51) points (P = 0.001), and the average AOFAS score was increased from (64.97 ± 13.56) points before surgery to (90.06 ± 10.06) points (P = 0.001). During the follow‐up period, there was no chronic rupture of Achilles tendon. There were two cases of recurrence of foot drop (5.7%), and the patients' satisfaction rate was 93.9%.

Conclusion

In the surgical treatment of severe ankle joint deformity, the application of triple hemisection percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening for Achilles tendon contracture has the advantages of less trauma, beautiful incision, and reliable efficacy. The satisfaction rate of patients with this treatment is high, and it is worth promoting in the clinic.

The clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy: a scoping review

Background

Achilles tendinopathy describes the clinical presentation of pain localised to the Achilles tendon and associated loss of function with tendon loading activities. However, clinicians display differing approaches to the diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy due to inconsistency in the clinical terminology, an evolving understanding of the pathophysiology, and the lack of consensus on clinical tests which could be considered the gold standard for diagnosing Achilles tendinopathy. The primary aim of this scoping review is to provide a method for clinically diagnosing Achilles tendinopathy that aligns with the nine core health domains.

Methodology

A scoping review was conducted to synthesise available evidence on the clinical diagnosis and clinical outcome measures of Achilles tendinopathy. Extracted data included author, year of publication, participant characteristics, methods for diagnosing Achilles tendinopathy and outcome measures.

Results

A total of 159 articles were included in this scoping review. The most commonly used subjective measure was self-reported location of pain, while additional measures included pain with tendon loading activity, duration of symptoms and tendon stiffness. The most commonly identified objective clinical test for Achilles tendinopathy was tendon palpation (including pain on palpation, localised tendon thickening or localised swelling). Further objective tests used to assess Achilles tendinopathy included tendon pain during loading activities (single-leg heel raises and hopping) and the Royal London Hospital Test and the Painful Arc Sign. The VISA-A questionnaire as the most commonly used outcome measure to monitor Achilles tendinopathy. However, psychological factors (PES, TKS and PCS) and overall quality of life (SF-12, SF-36 and EQ-5D-5L) were less frequently measured.

Conclusions

There is significant variation in the methodology and outcome measures used to diagnose Achilles tendinopathy. A method for diagnosing Achilles tendinopathy is proposed, that includes both results from the scoping review and recent recommendations for reporting results in tendinopathy.

Neglected Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Achilles tendon ruptures are a common ailment and often missed in upwards of 25% of cases. Neglected Achilles injuries can be treated both conservatively and surgically. Physical therapy, bracing, and custom ankle-foot orthoses are some options to consider. Surgically, there are many options, depending on the quality of the existing tendon, size of the defect, and the surgeon's comfort with the technique. Those procedures include primary repair, V-Y tendon advancement, turndown flap, tendon transfers, and other allografts. These techniques have been shown to have good to excellent outcomes and typically return patients to activities without complaints.

Meta-analysis of Noninsertional Achilles Tendinopathy

BACKGROUND

Achilles tendinopathy is a common clinical problem that can be either insertional or noninsertional. A variety of treatment methods have been described, although little consensus exists on an optimal method or methods. We sought to investigate the current evidence on different treatment methods for noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy, with a focus on functional outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a review of the available literature in PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data from included studies were categorized according to treatment method and analyzed with respect to functional outcome and complication rate.

RESULTS

In total, 1420 abstracts were reviewed, of which 72 articles containing 3523 patients met inclusion criteria. Within the 72 studies included, 6 operative techniques and 19 nonoperative treatments were evaluated.

CONCLUSION

A wide variety of treatments are available for noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy, although newer treatments and most operative methods lack high-level evidence. Eccentric exercise is the most thoroughly studied and supported nonoperative treatment, while tenotomy and debridement is the operative procedure with the most evidence of efficacy. Platelet-rich plasma injections and extracorporeal shockwave therapy have proven to be viable second-line nonoperative treatments. Gastrocnemius recession and flexor hallucis longus transfer have shown benefit in case series.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, systematic review.

Modified Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Lengthening by Triple Hemisection for Achilles Tendon Contracture

Background

Both percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening by triple hemisection and the traditional open Z-lengthening are effective methods for Achilles tendon contracture. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new therapeutic method, which is based on the percutaneous sliding technique with three hemi-cuts in the tendon, as compared with the traditional open Z-lengthening.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of the Achilles tendon contracture cases in our hospital between January 2010 and September 2016 was conducted. Twenty-five cases received percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening (group A), and 30 patients who underwent open Z-lengthening during the same period were in the control group (group B). Operative time and hospital stay were statistically analyzed. Incision complication, equinus recurrence rate and Achilles tendon rupture morbidity were recorded. The function was assessed by American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. All cases in group A received Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of ankle preoperatively and in the follow-ups.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 42.04 months in group A and 61.7 months in group B. The entire operative time and the mean hospitalization days were lower in group A than in group B. No incision and infection complication occurred in group A. The infection rate in group B was 3.3%. Equinus recurrence rate was 4% in group A and the equinus recurrence rate in group B was 21.4%. In group A, the mean AOFAS score increased from 64 ± 10.16 points preoperatively to 96.08 ± 3.17 at final follow-up, while the score in group B increased from 63.48 ± 6.2 points to 85.4 ± 10.3. MRI showed continuity of the Achilles tendon and homogeneous signal in group A.

Conclusion

Modified surgery can significantly reduce the risk of Achilles tendon rupture, provide better balance in soft tissue strength between ankle dorsiflexion and ankle plantarflexion, helping to avoid recurrence of the deformity.