ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2016
Ultrasound-guided gastrocnemius recession: a new ultra-minimally invasive surgical technique.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06308380 (Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Protocol in Patients With Shortened Posterior Leg Muscles, Whether or Not Combined With Ultrasound- Guided Surgery), which is not on this map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Protocol in Patients With Shortened Posterior Leg Muscles, Whether or Not Combined With Ultrasound- Guided Surgery
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Level of Evidence for the Treatment of Chronic Noninsertional Achilles Tendinopathy.Foot & ankle specialist · 2023Pooled it
- Gastrocnemius Recession in Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Needle‑based gastrocnemius lengthening: a novel ultrasound‑guided noninvasive technique: part II-clinical results.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- Isolated Gastrocnemius Contraction and Gastroc Recession Surgery in Case of Planter Fasciitis: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.Indian journal of orthopaedics · 2023Review
- Needle-based gastrocnemius lengthening: a novel ultrasound-guided noninvasive technique.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2022Article
- Ultrasound-guided surgery for lateral snapping hip: a novel ultraminimally invasive surgical technique.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2021Article
- A novel closed technique for ultrasound-guided plantar fascia release with a needle: review of 107 cases with a minimum follow-up of 24 months.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2021Article
- Anatomical basis of a safe mini-invasive technique for lengthening of the anterior gastrocnemius aponeurosis.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2021Article
- Results of ultrasound-guided release of tarsal tunnel syndrome: a review of 81 cases with a minimum follow-up of 18 months.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIsolated gastrocnemius contracture is thought to lead to numerous conditions. Although many techniques have been described for gastrocnemius recession, potential anesthetic, cosmetic, and wound-related complications can lead to patient dissatisfaction. Open and endoscopic recession techniques require epidural anesthesia, lower limb ischemia, and stitches and may lead to damage of the sural nerve, which is not under the complete control of the surgeon at all stages of the procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new technique based on ultrasound-guided ultra-minimally invasive gastrocnemius recession.
methodsWe performed a pilot study with 22 cadavers to ensure that the technique was effective and safe. In the second phase, we prospectively performed gastrocnemius recession in 23 patients (25 cases) with chronic non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy, equinus foot, and other indications. In the clinical study, we evaluated the range of dorsiflexion before and after the procedure, clinical outcomes with VAS and AOFAS scores, and potential complications, including neurovascular injuries.
resultsWe achieved complete release of the gastrocnemius tendon in all cases in the cadaveric study, with no damage to the sural nerve or vessels and minimal damage to the underlying muscle fibers. Ankle dorsiflexion increased for every patient in the study (mean, 14°; standard deviation, 3°) and was maintained throughout follow-up. The mean preoperative VAS score was 7 (6-9), which improved to 0 (0-1). The AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Score improved from a mean of 30 (20-40) to 93 (85-100) at 6 months. No major complications were observed. All patients returned to their previous sports after 6 months.
conclusionsAfter cadaveric and clinical study, we considered the technique to be safe and effective to perform ultrasound-guided ultra-minimally invasive gastrocnemius recession using a 1-mm incision in vivo. This novel technique represents an alternative to open techniques, with encouraging results and with the advantages of reducing pain, obviating lower limb ischemia, deeper anaesthesia, thus decreasing complications and contraindications and accelerating recovery.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.