Calf Muscle Atrophy After Achilles Tendon Rupture. A Clinical-Radiological-Biomechanical Multicenter Study.

Multicenter Achilles tendon study Switzerland. Comparing three mainstream treatment types: open, percutaneous and conservative (non-operative) treatments.

Comparing force torque measurements, muscle volume and clinical scores.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 20-65 years of age,
• a healthy, contralateral leg
• physiological, clinically determined alignment of the knee, foot and ankle
• no trauma to the healthy leg
• no neuromuscular impairments including muscle dystrophies
• no other posttraumatic injuries or osteoarthritis of the knee, foot or ankle of the affected leg.

Exclusion Criteria:

• re-rupture or reoperation of the Achilles tendon
• surgical site infection
• neuromuscular diseases including muscle dystrophies
• ankle valgus of more than 15° or ankle varus of more than 5°
• other known pathologies of the non-affected leg
• general MRI exclusion criteria (e.g. pacemaker, other metal not qualifying for an MRI, tattoos and claustrophobia)
• body mass index (BMI) of > 40 kg/m2