Journal of Medical Ultrasound, 2022 · DOI: 10.4103/jmu.jmu_33_22 · Published: July 1, 2022
This study aimed to examine changes in muscle thickness and fat content in the legs of patients with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) using ultrasound over a 4-week period following the injury. Twenty patients with motor complete SCI were recruited and underwent ultrasound measurements of their rectus femoris and medial gastrocnemius muscles to assess thickness and echo intensity (a measure of fat infiltration). The study found a decrease in the thickness of the rectus femoris muscle and an increase in its echo intensity, indicating increased fat infiltration, while no significant changes were observed in the medial gastrocnemius muscle.
The findings suggest the need for early interventions, such as targeted exercises or nutritional support, to mitigate muscle atrophy and fat accumulation in the rectus femoris muscle following SCI.
Ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive and relatively inexpensive tool to monitor muscle changes in patients with acute SCI, allowing for timely adjustments to rehabilitation programs.
Rehabilitation programs should focus on preserving muscle mass and reducing fat infiltration in the rectus femoris, given its vulnerability to changes after SCI.