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Trunk Muscle Composition 2 Months After Hip Fracture: Findings From the Baltimore Hip Studies
Gregory E Hicks1, Michelle D Shardell2, Ram R Miller3
1Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
Objective:
To determine if hip fracture patients would have smaller cross-sectional area (CSA) and lower radiological attenuation (suggesting greater fat infiltration) in all trunk muscles as compared to older adults without hip fractures.
Design:
Cross-sectional analysis of computed tomography (CT) scans.
Setting:
Clinical imaging facility.
Participants:
Forty-one white participants (19 men, 22 women) from the Baltimore Hip Studies seventh cohort at 2 months postfracture were compared to 693 white participants (424 men, 269 women) from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study at the year 6 visit (N=734).
Intervention:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Trunk muscle CSA and attenuation values were obtained from a single 10-mm, axial CT scan completed at the L4-L5 disc space in each participant.
Results:
The hip fracture cohort had significantly smaller CSA for all trunk muscles (range: 12.1%-38% smaller) compared to the Health ABC cohort (P<.01), with the exception of the rectus abdominus muscle in men (P=.12). But, hip fracture patients, particularly female patients, had higher attenuation levels (lower intramuscular fat) in all trunk muscles (P<.0001).
Conclusions:
Findings are consistent with atrophy of the trunk muscles in the hip fracture population without a high level of intramuscular fat. Future work should evaluate the role of trunk muscle composition in the functional recovery of older adults after hip fracture.
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