MRI analysis and clinical significance of lower extremity muscle cross-sectional area after spinal cord injury

Neural Regeneration Research, 2017 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.206634 · Published: May 1, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Medical Imaging Musculoskeletal Medicine

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to changes in the musculoskeletal system, especially below the injury site, affecting muscle size, strength, and bone density. Measuring the lower leg muscles' size and composition using MRI can offer insights into reducing the risk of health problems related to SCI. The review summarizes how to measure lower leg muscles in SCI patients using MRI and highlights the importance of this analysis for musculoskeletal and vascular health.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Individuals with spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
MRI is an effective method for analyzing lower leg muscles in SCI patients, providing detailed information about muscle volume, architecture, and composition.
2
Muscle quality, rather than just strength, is more indicative of developing metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes after SCI.
3
Atrophy of lower leg muscles, particularly the gastrocnemius and soleus, increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in SCI patients.

Research Summary

Following SCI, the musculoskeletal system undergoes changes, including loss of muscle size and strength, leading to reduced bone mineral density and other health issues. Analyzing the cross-sectional area of lower leg muscles can provide insights into reducing the risk of comorbidities associated with SCI. The review summarizes the MRI-based method for measuring lower leg muscles in SCI patients and its significance for musculoskeletal and vascular systems.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Electrical stimulation and prolonged exercise programs may attenuate venous insufficiencies and osteopenia after chronic SCI.

Venous Thromboembolism Prevention

Clinicians should develop effective therapies to attenuate atrophy and to maintain healthy venous flow after SCI.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction

FES exercise programs can reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors and other metabolic abnormalities in SCI patients.

Study Limitations

1
Tracing various muscle groups of the lower leg can be an arduous process.
2
Defining anatomical borders of individual muscle groups may be difficult when analyzing severely atrophied leg muscles.
3
Poor signal-to-noise ratio in MR images can result in inaccurate pixel signal intensities.

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