B Yilmaz1, Y Demir1, E Özyörük1, S Kesikburun1, Ü Güzelküçük1. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Femoral cartilage thickness has been used as an indicator for immobilization and unloading in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, conflicting results have been reported on this subject. OBJECTIVES: (i) To determine femoral cartilage thickness alterations after prolonged immobilization, (ii) to demonstrate the effect of the daily standing or ambulation time on the cartilage and (iii) to analyze the predictors of the femoral cartilage in patients with SCI. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with SCI and 50 healthy age and sex-matched volunteers were enrolled in the study. A physician scanned both knees of all participants and measurements were taken at three locations: trochlear notch, midpoints of the medial and lateral condyle. RESULTS: The trochlear notch, medial and lateral condyle femoral cartilage thickness of both sides were significantly thicker in the control group (P<0.05). Patients with <1 h daily standing/walking time had higher thickness measurements in all sub parameters than patients with >1 h daily standing/walking time (P<0.05). Daily standing/walking time and the Walking index for SCI score were statistically significant predictors for cartilage thickness. CONCLUSION: SCI patients had thinner knee cartilage compared with healthy individuals in ultrasonographic assessment. More than 1 h daily standing/walking time may have a negative effect on the femoral cartilage thickness. Thus, ultrasonographic evaluation of the femoral cartilage should be considered in clinical practice to detect early cartilage thinning in patients with SCI.
BACKGROUND:Femoral cartilage thickness has been used as an indicator for immobilization and unloading in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, conflicting results have been reported on this subject. OBJECTIVES: (i) To determine femoral cartilage thickness alterations after prolonged immobilization, (ii) to demonstrate the effect of the daily standing or ambulation time on the cartilage and (iii) to analyze the predictors of the femoral cartilage in patients with SCI. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with SCI and 50 healthy age and sex-matched volunteers were enrolled in the study. A physician scanned both knees of all participants and measurements were taken at three locations: trochlear notch, midpoints of the medial and lateral condyle. RESULTS: The trochlear notch, medial and lateral condyle femoral cartilage thickness of both sides were significantly thicker in the control group (P<0.05). Patients with <1 h daily standing/walking time had higher thickness measurements in all sub parameters than patients with >1 h daily standing/walking time (P<0.05). Daily standing/walking time and the Walking index for SCI score were statistically significant predictors for cartilage thickness. CONCLUSION: SCI patients had thinner knee cartilage compared with healthy individuals in ultrasonographic assessment. More than 1 h daily standing/walking time may have a negative effect on the femoral cartilage thickness. Thus, ultrasonographic evaluation of the femoral cartilage should be considered in clinical practice to detect early cartilage thinning in patients with SCI.
Authors: Steven C Kirshblum; Stephen P Burns; Fin Biering-Sorensen; William Donovan; Daniel E Graves; Amitabh Jha; Mark Johansen; Linda Jones; Andrei Krassioukov; M J Mulcahey; Mary Schmidt-Read; William Waring Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2011-11 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: J Haapala; J P Arokoski; M M Hyttinen; M Lammi; M Tammi; V Kovanen; H J Helminen; I Kiviranta Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 1999-05 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Serdar Kesikburun; Özlem Köroğlu; Evren Yaşar; Ümüt Güzelküçük; Kamil Yazcoğlu; Arif Kenan Tan Journal: Am J Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 2.159