title: Ultrasound measurement of the volume of musculus quadriceps after knee joint injury.
abstract: The monitoring of the recovery of femoral muscles, after the knee-joint injury, is possible by the method of ultrasound measurement of the muscular volume. In a clearly defined longitudinal study, our object was to standardize the method of ultrasound measurement of muscular volume and to evaluate its adequacy in practical application in quadriceps muscle rehabilitation. The ultrasound measurements of m. rectus femoris and m. vastus intermedius were conducted in three intervals: in the first 24 hours after the injury; after 1 week, when immobilization was removed; and after 6 weeks, when rehabilitation was finished. The study comprised 30 patients with knee-joint injury, and 30 asymptomatic subjects, who formed the control group. The results showed significant decrease of muscular volume (mm3) after joint immobilization on injured leg and a significant increase of volume after rehabilitation. The same differences were observed on healthy legs, but without significance. Within the same intervals, there were no changes in the muscular mass in the control group. M. rectus femoris was completely recovered in greater number of patients (54.1%), comparing to m. vastus intermedius (25.4%). We conclude that the ultrasound is an appropriate method for monitoring the process of muscular atrophy during immobilization, as well as the course of muscular restitution during the physical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Insurance Company Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. melita.uremovic@osiguranje-zagreb.hr
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uremović
authors.forename: Marija Bosnjak
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pasić
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Serić
authors.forename: Vesna Vargek
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Solter
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budić
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bosnjak
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cvijetić-Avdagić
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solter
authors.forename: Vida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Demarin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography