title: Asymmetry in CT Scan Measures of Thigh Muscle 2 Months After Hip Fracture: The Baltimore Hip Studies.
abstract: Hip fracture is an important problem for older adults with significant functional consequences. After hip fracture, reduced muscle loading can result in muscle atrophy.
  
  
  
  We compared thigh muscle characteristics in the fractured leg to those in the nonfractured leg in participants from the Baltimore Hip Studies 7th cohort using computed tomography scan imaging.
  
  
  
  At 2 months postfracture, a single 10mm axial computed tomography scan was obtained at the midthigh level in 43 participants (23 men, 20 women) with a mean age of 79.9 years (range: 65-96 years), and thigh muscle cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area of intermuscular adipose tissue, and mean radiologic attenuation were measured. Total thigh muscle cross-sectional area was less on the side of the fracture by 9.46cm(2) (95% CI: 5.97cm(2), 12.95cm(2)) while the cross-sectional area of intermuscular adipose tissue was greater by 2.97cm(2) (95% CI: 1.94cm(2), 4.01cm(2)) on the fractured side. Mean muscle attenuation was lower on the side of the fracture by 3.66 Hounsfield Units (95% CI: 2.98 Hounsfield Units, 4.34 Hounsfield Units).
  
  
  
  The observed asymmetry is consistent with the effect of disuse and inflammation in the affected limb along with training effects in the unaffected limb due to the favoring of this leg with ambulation during the postfracture period.
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Division of Gerontology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine. ram.6.miller@gsk.com.
authors.forename: Ram R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Arcadia University, Glenside, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Marty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eastlack
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark.
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerontology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Dawn E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Alley
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
authors.forename: Michelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shardell
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerontology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Denise L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Orwig
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes, Florida Hospital, Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, Orlando.
authors.forename: Bret H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Goodpaster
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chomentowski
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerontology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
authors.forename: Marc C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hochberg
authors.affiliation: Longitudinal Studies Section, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerontology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magaziner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015142:Baltimore; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Aged; Computed tomography; Hip fracture; Muscle composition