Achilles Vascular Flashcards
What region of the achilles is most commonly ruptured?
Mid-way along the length of the achilles.
What are the odds that a male experiences an achilles tendon rupture?
7 per 100,000
Typically at the midsection.
What is the protective nature of the achilles tendon twist?
Less fibre buckling when the tendon is lax and less deformation of individual strands when under tension.
Which vessels supply the length of the achilles tendon and where do they arise from?
The paratenon carries vessels from the posterior tibial artery.
The peroneal artery likely anastamoses with the posterior tibial artery.
what percentage of blood supply is given by the paratenon?
It is thought that the paratenon only contributes 35% of the total blood supply to the achilles midsection.
In rabitt tissue, it is thought to be different in humans.
How does vascularization of the achilles tendon change with age?
The most vascularizd zone is the tendon muscle bone complex in the young.
In those over 30 most of the blood supply is at the tendon origin.
Which part of the achilles tendon is least vascularized in all ages?
The middle part of the tendon is the least vascularized at all ages.
What pros does the power doppler carry?
It is more sensitive to small and tortuous vessels of superficial structures.
What blood flow changes are seen with exercise in the achilles tendon?
Increases 2.5 fold 2cm proximal to the insertion.
Increases 4 fold 5 cm proximally.
**This increase flow is unaltered by age!
Also important to note this is just peritendinous, not in the tendon itself.
