Calf muscle wasting after tibial shaft fracture.
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.
Khalid
M
M
Mid-Western Regional Orthopaedic Hospital, Limerick, Republic of Ireland. khalidbones@hotmail.com
Brannigan
A
A
Burke
T
T
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