title: Calf muscle wasting after tibial shaft fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the long term effect of tibial shaft fractures treated by immobilisation in a long leg cast on the calf muscle bulk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomography scans were performed at fixed points on the lower legs of 23 non-professional athletes who sustained closed tibial fractures 16 years previously. Length of immobilisation was determined from the hospital records. All the fractures were treated non-operatively. The cross sectional area of the various leg compartments was measured and compared with the non-injured leg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in cross sectional area of the posterior compartment (p<0.001, Student's t test). No such difference was seen in the anterolateral compartment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tibial fractures treated non-operatively are associated with significant long term calf muscle wasting.
authors.affiliation: Mid-Western Regional Orthopaedic Hospital, Limerick, Republic of Ireland. khalidbones@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brannigan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D002370:Casts, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed