Tendon injuries Flashcards
What does a tendon attach to?
Muscle origin and a bone
How are cells arranged in tendons?
Longitudinally
What is the most common type of cell in a tendon?
Tenocyte
What are fascicles?
Structures containing collagen bundles within the tendon
What covers collagen bundles?
Endotenon
What covers fascicles?
Paratenon
What covers the tendon?
Epitenon
How do tendons attach to tendon sheaths?
By a vinculum
What is a vinculum?
Connecting band of tissue
What is the purpose of thickenings in the tendon sheath?
They form strong annular pulleys
What is the function of tendons?
They are very strong in tension and highly flexible
What can cause tendon injury?
Degeneration Inflammation Enthesiopathy Traction apophysitis Avulsion+bone fragment Tear - intrasubstance (rupture) Tear - musculotendinous junction Laceration Crush Nodules
What is an enthesopathy?
Disorder involving attachment of a tendon or ligament to bone
What is traction apophysitis?
Inflammation of the apophysis
What happens in degeneration of the tendon?
Intrasubstance mucoid degeneration
How can tendon degeneration present?
Swollen
Painful
Tender
May be asymptomatic
What is Finkelstein’s test?
Person grasps the thumb within their fist and ulnar deviating the wrist
What is avulsion?
Failure at insertion due to load exceeding capacity while muscle contracting
What are conservative treatments of avulsion?
Limited application
Retraction of the tendon
What causes rupture of the tendon?
Load exceeds limits
When would you operate on someone with tendon rupture?
High risk of rerupture
High activity
Ends cannot be opposed
