ACHILLES-TENDON INSERTION - AN IN-VITRO ANATOMIC STUDY

Seventeen adult fresh-frozen below-knee amputation cadaver specimens w ere studied. Calcific Achilles tendinitis was present in three specime ns. After exposing the Achilles tendon insertion on the calcaneus, the insertion was outlined with waterproof paint. The specimens were phot ographed on a special plexiglass apparatus to highlight important find ings. For the purpose of showing the length of insertion on lateral ra diographs, lead beads were placed on the most superior and most inferi or aspects of the insertion. All specimens showed that the tendon term inated at the medial and lateral bone borders of the calcaneus without significant extension around the medial or lateral wall. All specimen s revealed a greater distance of insertion on the medial calcaneus tha n on the lateral side. In the specimens that had calcific Achilles ten dinitis, the posterior bone surface of the spurs was devoid of tendino us insertion. Instead, the insertion occurred between the spur and the posterior wall of the calcaneus. All spurs were located laterally at the most inferior border of the tendon insertion.