Causes of Achilles tendon inflammation in animals

Sa？etak Causes of Achilles tendon injury in animals can be traumatic or atraumatic. Pathological changes in relation to inflammation may occur throughout the entire tendon, either at the transition towards the muscle, on the tendon sheath itself, or on the Achilles tendon insertion into the back of the heel bone. The etiology of the inflammatory process in the tendon itself is diverse, most commonly it’s traumatic, that is, microtraumatic, metabolic and less common infective. By the action of numerous factors such as cytokine interleukin-1, prostaglandin, nitric oxide and metalloproteinase, the cellular and fibrous structure of the tendon is degraded. Degradation is characterized as the weakening of biomechanical tendon properties and reduced elasticity while plasticity and stiffness are being increased. Changes in thickness and density of collagen fibres occurs and fibres are becoming thinner. Composition changes, collagen ratio and appearance of the fibres are characteristic of tendinopathies. Knowing the etiology and the cause of the Achilles tendon inflammation in animals is important for timely recognition of signs of inflammation, prevention of chronic inflammation and successful treatment. For successful and quick treatment of tendon inflammation it is crucial to start treatment in the early stage. If the inflammatory condition lasts it causes damage and inflammation passes into a subacute or chronic form. In case when inflammation transits on the Achilles tendon insertion it forms inflammatory state, called enthesitis . The tissue of such tendon has been degenerately changed, less supplied with blood, with the accumulation of foreign substances such as calcium salts and calcifications. Tendon loses its characteristic histological structure and biomechanical properties, and each movement becomes a source of pain. This paper summarizes the problems of Achilles tendon tendinopathy in animals