Morphometric Analysis of Achilles Tendon Structure and Its Significance: A Cadaveric Study

Abstract

Introduction: Achilles tendon is crucial for gait, and chronic Achilles tendinopathy can have a substantial impact on an individual's work and active involvement in physical or sports activity, and overall quality of life.Objectives: This research was to determine the macroscopic and microscopic anatomy of Achilles tendons in cadavers.Materials and methods: This experimental study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Medical College, Thandalam, from March to August 2022. A total of 60 formalin-perfused cadavers (38 males and 22 females) were dissected to study their morphometry (length, width, thickness) and histology. The data was tabulated in MS excel and analyzed statistically using unpaired 't-test and one-way ANOVA in SPSS Software 17.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).Results: The mean length of the Achilles tendon was significantly higher in males than in females and similarly, the length on the right side was significantly higher than on the left side (p<0.005). The width and circumference were statistically higher in females than, males whereas, the histological features were similar in both males and females. Conclusion:The better understanding of Achilles tendon morphometry in cadavers always aids in the diagnosis and surgical repair of tendinopathy, rupture, and degenerative change. The knowledge will be helpful for the surgeons during the repair and reconstruction of the injured tendon.