Quantifying the Fascicular Changes in Recovered Achilles Tendon Patients Using Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Tractography

Abstract

Regardless of the way of treatment, persistent deficits in calf muscles in recovered patients from Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) exist long-term postinjury. Studies on calf muscle changes mostly highlight morphological changes in the calf muscles and Achilles tendon. However, limited attention has been given to fascicular changes. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can provide a better understanding of the characteristics and properties of tissues with organized microstructure. In the current study, we used DTI-derived indices (mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), and eigenvalues—λ1, λ2, and λ3) and fiber tractography to better understand the soleus muscle after recovery from ATR by comparing the results of injured legs with healthy ones. Our findings suggest that the standard deviations of measured parameters (FA, MD, and eigenvalues) within the soleus muscle are better predictors of the changes associated with the ATR as compared to the control counterpart for the volumetric region of interest (ROI). Additionally, in four out of five participants, smaller tracts were observed in the injured leg compared to the healthy one, as evidenced by the fiber length distribution of the tracts. Altogether, this study demonstrates the feasibility of the DTI and fiber tractography approaches to quantify the fascicular changes in the individuals recovered from ATR.