The blood supply of the tendon with a paratenon. An experimental study using hydrogen washout technique.

The blood supply to the central third of the Achilles tendon was studied in adult rabbits using the hydrogen washout technique before and after soft tissue dissection including paratenon. The soft tissue dissection caused a decrease of the blood flow rate in the Achilles tendon by approximately 35 per cent. These results may indicate that the central third of the tendon with a paratenon receives its blood supply from the extrinsic vascular system by approximately 35 per cent and from the intrinsic vascular system by approximately 65 per cent.