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Classification by degree of twisted structure of the fetal Achilles tendon

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Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to classify the twisted structure of the fetal Achilles tendon.

Methods

The study was conducted using 30 legs from 15 Japanese fetuses (mean weight, 1764.6 ± 616.9 g; mean crown–rump length, 283.5 ± 38.7 mm; 16 males, 14 females). According to attachment to the deep layer of the calcaneal tuberosity, cases showing only soleus attachment were classified as least twist (Type I), cases showing both lateral head of the gastrocnemius and soleus were classified as moderate twist (Type II), and cases with only lateral head of the gastrocnemius were classified as extreme twist (Type III).

Results

Viewing the Achilles tendon from cranially shows a structure twisted counterclockwise on the right side and clockwise on the left. The Achilles tendon was Type I in 4 legs (13%), Type II in 23 legs (77%), and Type III in 3 legs (10%).

Conclusions

The twisted structure of the Achilles tendon can be classified as early as the second trimester and is similar to that seen in adults.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially improve patient care and increase mankind's overall knowledge. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude. We also thank the technical staff members and Satoru Hirano for helping in cadaver management. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (19K11358) from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Shimami-cho 1398, Kita-ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan

    Mutsuaki Edama, Tomoya Takabayashi, Hirotake Yokota, Ryo Hirabayashi, Chie Sekine & Sae Maruyama

  2. Department of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, 690-8504, Japan

    Hiroki Otani

Authors
  1. Mutsuaki Edama
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  2. Tomoya Takabayashi
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  3. Hirotake Yokota
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  4. Ryo Hirabayashi
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  5. Chie Sekine
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  6. Sae Maruyama
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  7. Hiroki Otani
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Contributions

ME and TT contributed to the study design and data collection, and drafted the manuscript; HY, RH contributed to the data analysis and made critical revisions to the manuscript; CS, SM made critical revisions to the manuscript; HO supervised the study, contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data, and made critical revisions to the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript prior to submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mutsuaki Edama.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All methods were carried out in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki, and all cadavers were legally donated for research purposes to the Shimane University, Izumo, Japan.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from the families of all subjects.

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Edama, M., Takabayashi, T., Yokota, H. et al. Classification by degree of twisted structure of the fetal Achilles tendon. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 1691–1695 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02803-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02803-9

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