Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28765268›Full record

ArticleBone & joint research2017

The Achilles tendon and the retrocalcaneal bursa: An anatomical and radiological study.

P A Pękala, B M Henry, J R Pękala, K Piska, K A Tomaszewski

Erratum issuedOpen access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Bone & joint research, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The Role of Phagocytic Cells in the Achilles Tendon.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. In-Vivo Efficacy of Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) Injection for Accelerated Healing of Murine Retrocalcaneal Bursitis and Tendinopathy.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2020
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

P A PękalaDepartment of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
B M HenryDepartment of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
J R PękalaDepartment of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
K PiskaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
K A TomaszewskiDepartment of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland and Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, 5th Military Clinical Hospital, Krakow, Poland krtomaszewski@gmail.com.
Jagiellonian University · PL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesInflammation of the retrocalcaneal bursa (RB) is a common clinical problem, particularly in professional athletes. RB inflammation is often treated with corticosteroid injections however a number of reports suggest an increased risk of Achilles tendon (AT) rupture. The aim of this cadaveric study was to describe the anatomical connections of the RB and to investigate whether it is possible for fluid to move from the RB into AT tissue.

methodsA total of 20 fresh-frozen AT specimens were used. In ten specimens, ink was injected into the RB. The remaining ten specimens were split into two groups to be injected with radiological contrast medium into the RB either with or without ultrasonography guidance (USG).

resultsIn specimens injected with ink, diffusion outside the RB was observed with staining of the anterior portion of the AT. In eight contrast-injected specimens (five USG, three non-USG), a similar localised diffusion pattern was observed, with the contrast identified superiorly and anteriorly. In two contrast-injected specimens (non-USG), the diffusion pattern was more extensive.

conclusionThis study confirmed the existence of connections between the RB and the AT, especially rich in the anteroinferior portion of the tendon, which should be considered a weak zone for substances injected into the RB. We hypothesise that this part of the AT might be most vulnerable to rupture after corticosteroid injections.

Indexed as

Achilles tendonBursa inflammationBursitisCorticosteroid injectionRetrocalcaneal bursaTendon rupture

Identifiers

PMID28765268
PMCPMC5539307
OpenAlexW2740006281

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.