Elasticity of the Supraspinatus Tendon-muscle Unit is Preserved after Acute Tendon Tearing in the Rabbit

Animal models for rotator cuff repair

“…Large animal models, such as goat, sheep, dog, calf, and rabbit, have proven to be suitable models for standard‐of‐care surgical techniques, robust mechanical loading, scaffold‐based repair strategies, and studies of muscle degenerative mechanisms, owing to the persistence of muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration as a consequence of chronic tendon release in these species. The limitations of the use of large animals include anatomic bone and soft tissue differences, cost, and the prolonged follow‐up required to demonstrate pathophysiologic changes .…”

“…The rabbit SSc tendon passes under the tuberculum supraglenoidale and inserts on the lesser tubercle of the humerus in an analogous manner to the human SS 54 tendon passing under the acromion to the greater tuberosity. 56 Large animal models, such as goat, 57,58 sheep, 59-62 dog, 45,63,64 calf, 65 and rabbit, [66][67][68][69][70] have proven to be suitable models for standard-of-care surgical techniques, robust mechanical loading, scaffold-based repair strategies, and studies of muscle degenerative mechanisms, owing to the persistence of muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration as a consequence of chronic tendon release in these species. The limitations of the use of large animals include anatomic bone and soft tissue differences, cost, and the prolonged follow-up required to demonstrate pathophysiologic changes.…”

Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastographic Evaluation of the Rotator Cuff Tendon

“…For example, Aubry et al recently demonstrated softening in the Achilles tendon using SWE, a finding that had been previously demonstrated by compression elastography . In the rotator cuff, prior work has demonstrated the feasibility of elastographic tendon assessment and has characterized basic tendon properties ex vivo . To our knowledge, a detailed SWE evaluation of the rotator cuff tendon in vivo has not been described in a healthy or symptomatic population.…”

“…15 In the rotator cuff, prior work has demonstrated the feasibility of elastographic tendon assessment and has characterized basic tendon properties ex vivo. [16][17][18] To our knowledge, a detailed SWE evaluation of the rotator cuff tendon in vivo has not been described in a healthy or symptomatic population. Therefore, we examined the feasibility of using SWE for evaluation of the rotator cuff tendon in symptomatic and morphologically abnormal populations, with the hope of supporting an adjunctive method for assessment of tendon quality in clinical practice.…”