Biomechanical properties of double- and single-row suture anchor repair for surgical treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Background: Because of intratendinous ossifications, retrocalcaneal bursitis, or intratendinous necrosis commonly found in insertional tendinosis, it is often necessary to detach the tendon partially or entirely from its tendon-to-bone junction.

Hypothesis: Double-row repair for insertional Achilles tendinopathy will generate an increased contact area and demonstrate higher biomechanical stability.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Relative strengths of the calf muscles based on MRI volume measurements.

Background: In 1985, Silver et al. published a cadaver study which determined the relative order of strength of the muscles in the calf. Muscle strength, which is proportional to volume, was obtained by dissecting out the individual muscles, weighing them, and then multiplying by the specific gravity.