Ultrasonography and Low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Common Calcanean Tendon in a Rabbit Model for Tendinopathy Research: a Descriptive Study of Normal Anatomy

Abstract

In spite of recent advances in treatment protocols, tendinopathies continue to challenge orthopaedists and surgeons. Due to the complexity of both tendon injuries and the healing processes, animal models are essential for addressing fundamental questions in tendinopathy research. Diagnostic imaging could contribute to the evaluation of animal models, thus providing information, which could be translated to human tendinopathies. The objective of our study was to evaluate in situ appearance of the rabbit common calcanean tendon with ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, we sought to assess and compare the feasibility and usefulness of these techniques in a rabbit model while focusing on the imaging of the particular structures involved in calcaneal tendon disorders. Eight California rabbits were used for post-mortem sonographic and low-field magnetic resonance examination. Morphometry was performed on longitudinal sonograms and sagittal MRI scans. The craniocaudal diameter of the tendon was measured at four points of interest. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance provided good visualisation of the tendon origin, the paratenon and the pre-Achilles fat pad. Magnetic resonance images presented in more detail the structure of the calcaneal insertion. Both modalities failed to visualise the individual components of the common calcanean tendon and the bursa of the calcaneal tendon. Statistical analysis of measurements obtained showed that the craniocaudal diameter of the common calcanean tendon in a rabbit increases significantly with a growing length from the calcaneal tuber. Both magnetic resonance and ultrasonography are feasible, and should be considered complementary, not alternative imaging techniques in a rabbit common calcanean tendon model.

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

“…The animals were euthanized with overdose of pentobarbital (200 mg/kg intravenously) in the course of a different experiment, neither related to this study nor to pelvic limb pathologies (approval ). An analysis of all obtained scans was undertaken analogically to that applied in the previous study (Skalec et al 2016), using qualitative description based on visualisation of particular components of the CCT, i.e., the medial and lateral gastrocnemius tendons and the superficial digital flexor tendon. Signal intensity of the tendons, their musculotendinous junctions, the region of calcaneal insertion, the paratenon, the pre-Achilles fat pad and the bursa of calcaneal tendon were also assessed (Harris and Peduto 2006).…”

“…Signal intensity of the tendons, their musculotendinous junctions, the region of calcaneal insertion, the paratenon, the pre-Achilles fat pad and the bursa of calcaneal tendon were also assessed (Harris and Peduto 2006). The anatomical details presented in T1-weighted sequence were compared and referred to the previously described T1-wieghted low-field MRI (0.25 T) scans of the rabbit CCT (Skalec et al 2016).…”

“…In tendinopathy research, laboratory animals are commonly utilized, but their relatively small sizes challenge technical capabilities of imaging equipment (Bottagisio and Lovati 2017). This study is a continuation of our previous research concerning the low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Skalec et al 2016). Generally, low-field MRI systems are characterized by the magnetic field strength of less than 0.5 T and high-field systems are recognized by some authors as more than 1 T (Hayashi et al 2004).…”

“…Generally, low-field MRI systems are characterized by the magnetic field strength of less than 0.5 T and high-field systems are recognized by some authors as more than 1 T (Hayashi et al 2004). The objective of the present study was to investigate the utility of the high-field MRI in the evaluation of the common calcanean tendon (CCT) of the rabbit and to compare the visualization of the anatomical details with lowfield MRI scans obtained and described previously (Skalec et al 2016).…”

Diagnosis of cerebral ventriculomegaly in felines using 0.25 Tesla and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging

“…Hydrocephalus was formerly considered to be a rare disease in veterinary medicine; however, the prevalence of the disease has increased in recent years due to the greater availability of magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ex-doi: 10.17221/59/2017-VETMED aminations provide anatomical and morphological information, and they are performed to evaluate the soft tissue, joints, tendons, but especially the central nervous system (CNS) of humans and animals (Tani et al 2001;Woo et al 2010;Adamiak et al 2012;Zhalniarovich et al 2013;Hori et al 2015;Skalec et al 2016;Przyborowska et al 2017a;Zhalniarovich et al 2017a;Zhalniarovich et al 2017b). In cats, viral infections such as parvoviral infections or feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) are common causes of hydrocephalus (Tani et al 2001;Keating et al 2016).…”