POSTER ABSTRACTS - ISAKOS

cutaneous nerve more than the femoral nerve and
there was no statistical significance of VAS scores
between injured and non-injured LM. On the
other hand, the injured ACL conspicuously lost its
sensory impact compared to an intact ACL. We
suggest that there is an extra innervation in the
ACL that cannot be anesthetized by FNB and IAA
and that this innervation fails easily with ACL
injury.
E-poster w/ Standard #824
Experimental Study on Collagen Changes in
Pathological Achilles Tendons
Marco M Merlo, Varese, ITALY, Presenter
L. Trentani, Busto Arsizio, ITALY
E. Campari, Pavia, ITALY
A. Forlino, Pavia, ITALY
Busto Arsizio General Hospital, Busto Arsizio,
ITALY
INTRODUCTION: At present time the role of
intrinsic factors in Achilles pathology is not well
known and so the treatment is difficult according
an etiopathogenetic approach. The purpose of this
study was to evaluate the collagen quantitative
changes in pathological Achilles tendons.
METHODS: 22 patients (range, 25-65 years) were
included in the study. 14 specimens were
harvested during surgery for Achilles tendon
rupture or Achilles tendinopathy. 8 specimens
were from patients without Achilles tendinopathy
operated on other pathologies close to the
Achilles tendon (calcaneal fractures, etc.).
Collagen was extracted by 48 hours pepsin
digestion in 0.5 M acetic acid and analyzed by
SDS-PAGE. Gels were stained with Comassie Blue
and digITALYzed by VersaDoc 3000 system
(BioRad). Quantitative assessment was performed
by Quantitave One Software (BioRad). The ratio of
collagen types III and I was measured. RESULTS:
The ratio of collagen types III to I increased
compared with healthy specimens (p