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A longitudinal MRI study of muscle atrophy during lower leg immobilization following ankle fracture
Author(s) -
Psatha Maria,
Wu Zhiqing,
Gammie Fiona M.,
Ratkevicius Aivaras,
Wackerhage Henning,
Lee Jennifer H.,
Redpath Thomas W.,
Gilbert Fiona J.,
Ashcroft George P.,
Meakin Judith R.,
Aspden Richard M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.22864
Subject(s) - atrophy , medicine , muscle atrophy , ankle , nuclear medicine , calf muscle , magnetic resonance imaging , urology , leg muscle , anatomy , surgery , radiology , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Purpose: To investigate MRI biomarkers of muscle atrophy during cast immobilization of the lower leg. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients (8 male, 10 female), who had one lower leg immobilized in a cast, underwent 3.0 Tesla (T) MR imaging 5, 8, 15, 29, and 43 days after casting. Measurements were made on both lower legs of total muscle volume. Cross‐sectional area (CSA), fractional water content, and T 2 were measured in tibialis anterior ( TA ), gastrocnemius medialis ( GM ) and lateralis ( GL ) and soleus ( SOL ). Fiber pennation angle was measured in GM . Results: Total muscle volume decreased by 17% ( P < 0.001) over the 6 weeks of immobilization. The greatest loss in CSA (mean[SD]) was seen in GM (−23.3(8.7)%), followed by SOL (−19.0(9.8)%), GL (−17.1(6.5)%), and TA (−10.7(5.9)%). Significant reductions of CSA were also detectable in the contra‐lateral leg. T 2 increased in all muscles: TA 27.0(2.5) ms to 29.6(2.8) ms ( P < 0.001), GM 34.6(2.9) ms to 39.8(5.4) ms ( P < 0.001) and SOL 34.4 (2.9) ms to 44.9(5.9) ms ( P < 0.001). Small reductions were found in fractional water content. Pennation angle decreased in the cast leg ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Quantitative MR imaging can detect and monitor progressive biochemical and biophysical changes in muscle during immobilization. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:686‐695. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.