Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30720208›Full record

ArticleJournal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society2019

Effects of immobilization angle on tendon healing after achilles rupture in a rat model.

Cody D Hillin, George W Fryhofer, Benjamin R Freedman, Daniel S Choi, Stephanie N Weiss, Julianne Huegel, Louis J Soslowsky

Open access · bronzeAbstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed
4.7field-weighted citation impact, top 5% 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

23 citing papers in PubMed, 41 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. A Novel Measurement of Altered Achilles Subtendon Load Sharing 6-12 Months Following Rupture.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Muscle Contraction Is Essential for Tendon Healing and Muscle Function Recovery After Achilles Tendon Rupture and Surgical Repair.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2025
    Article
  5. Achilles Tendon Surgical Repair Partially Restores Early Plantar Flexor Structure and Function in a Rat Model.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Preclinical tendon and ligament models: Beyond the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) to 5W1H (why, who, what, where, when, how).Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2023
    Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Nonsurgical treatment reduces tendon inflammation and elevates tendon markers in early healing.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2022
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Using tools in mechanobiology to repair tendons.Current tissue microenvironment reports · 2020
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Cody D HillinMcKay Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 110 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081.
George W FryhoferMcKay Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 110 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081.
Benjamin R FreedmanMcKay Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 110 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081.
Daniel S ChoiMcKay Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 110 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081.
Stephanie N WeissMcKay Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 110 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081.
Julianne HuegelMcKay Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 110 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081.
Louis J SoslowskyMcKay Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 110 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081.
University of Pennsylvania · US

Funding

Overall: Resource-based Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders Research (Overall Application)P30AR069619 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI LOUIS J SOSLOWSKY · 2016 to 2026
$9.1M
NIAMS NIH HHS P30 AR069619
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Conservative (non-operative) treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures is a common alternative to operative treatment. Following rupture, ankle immobilization in plantarflexion is thought to aid healing by restoring tendon end-to-end apposition. However, early activity may improve limb function, challenging the role of immobilization position on tendon healing, as it may affect loading across the injury site. This study investigated the effects of ankle immobilization angle in a rat model of Achilles tendon rupture. We hypothesized that manipulating the ankle from full plantarflexion into a more dorsiflexed position during the immobilization period would result in superior hindlimb function and tendon properties, but that prolonged casting in dorsiflexion would result in inferior outcomes. After Achilles tendon transection, animals were randomized into eight immobilization groups ranging from full plantarflexion (160°) to mid-point (90°) to full dorsiflexion (20°), with or without angle manipulation. Tendon properties and ankle function were influenced by ankle immobilization position and time. Tendon lengthening occurred after 1 week at 20° compared to more plantarflexed angles, and was associated with loss of propulsion force. Dorsiflexing the ankle during immobilization from 160° to 90° produced a stiffer, more aligned tendon, but did not lead to functional changes compared to immobilization at 160°. Although more dorsiflexed immobilization can enhance tissue properties and function of healing Achilles tendon following rupture, full dorsiflexion creates significant tendon elongation regardless of application time. This study suggests that the use of moderate plantarflexion and earlier return to activity can provide improved clinical outcomes. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res.

Indexed as

Achilles TendonAnimalsAnkle JointImmobilizationMaleRats, Sprague-DawleyRecovery of FunctionTendon Injuriesanimal modelbiomechanicsgait analysisimmobilizationorthopaedics

Identifiers

PMID30720208
PMCPMC6534419
OpenAlexW2911656665

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
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.