Serial Ultrasonographic and Real-Time Elastosonographic Assessment of the Ovine Common Calcaneal Tendon, after an Experimentally Induced Tendinopathy.

Real-time elastosonography (RTE) is a recently described, non-invasive, ultrasonographic technique developed to assess tissue elasticity. The main aim of this study was to investigate the ultrasonographic and elastosonographic appearance of the common calcaneal tendon (CCT) in an ovine model, and to monitor the progression of tendon healing after an experimentally-induced tendinopathy. Sound tendons were initially evaluated (T) with a caliper and by a single operator with ultrasound.