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Pathological changes in the triceps surae muscle after rupture of the Achilles tendon

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Summary

Biopsy of the triceps surae muscle was carried out in 11 patients who had sustained a spontaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon during sports. All the specimens showed important histological and ultrastructural changes, the most striking being the presence of large quantities of lipid droplets within the mucle fibres. A factor common to every patient was a period of inactivity before resuming sports. Preliminary training may be valuable in producing positive adaptive changes in the muscles, and the consequent improvement in function may reduce the risk of rupture of the Achilles tendon.

Résumé

On a réalisé des biopsies du triceps chez 11 sujets qui avaient présenté une rupture spontanée du tendon d'Achille au cours d'un exercice sportif. Toutes les pièces montraient d'importantes modifications histologiques et ultra-microscopiques, dont la plus frappante était la présence d'une grande quantité de gouttelettes lipidiques à l'intérieur des fibres musculaires. Une période d'inactivité précédant la reprise du sport constituait un facteur commun à l'ensemble des malades. Un entraînement préalable peut améliorer l'adaptation musculaire, ce qui peut diminuer le risque de rupture du tendon d'Achille.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinique d'Orthopédie et de Chirurgie de l'Appareil Moteur, Département de Chirurgie, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire de Genève, CH-1211, Genève 4, Suisse

    P. Hoffmeyer & C. Freuler

  2. Clinique d'Orthopédie et de Chirurgie de l'Appareil Moteur, Département de Pathologie, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire de Genève, CH-1211, Genève 4, Suisse

    J. N. Cox

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  1. P. Hoffmeyer
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  2. C. Freuler
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  3. J. N. Cox
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Hoffmeyer, P., Freuler, C. & Cox, J.N. Pathological changes in the triceps surae muscle after rupture of the Achilles tendon. International Orthopaedics 14, 183–188 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180126

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