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Published on: November 3, 2013
Calf muscle wasting after tibial shaft fracture
M Khalid1, A Brannigan, T Burke
1Mid-Western Regional Orthopaedic Hospital, Limerick, Republic of Ireland. khalidbones@hotmail.com
Objectives:
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.
Conclusion:
Tibial fractures treated non-operatively are associated with significant long term calf muscle wasting.
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