Cliff S Klein1, Hui Liu2, Chen Ning Zhao2, Xinghua Yang2. 1. Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Center, Guangzhou, China. c-klein@northwestern.edu. 2. Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Center, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. OBJECTIVES: To quantify differences in hand muscle morphology between persons with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and uninjured adults. SETTING: The study was performed at the Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital. METHODS: We quantified hand muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), thickness, and echo intensity (EI) in 18 persons with subacute to chronic SCI and 23 controls using ultrasound imaging. RESULTS: Mean SCI abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi (ADM), and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) CSA were ~26%, 43%, and 37% smaller than the control means, the deficit in the APB being less than the ADM (P < 0.05). Muscle thickness was also smaller after SCI, but deficits in ADM (31%) and FDI (20%) thickness were less than the CSA deficits (P < 0.05). In five SCI persons, APB CSA and/or opponens pollicis (OP) thickness were normal despite complete motor paralysis. Mean longitudinal image EI was 40% higher in the OP and 15% higher in the flexor pollicis brevis (FPB) after SCI (P < 0.05), suggesting denervation-induced infiltration of fat and fibrous tissues. OP EI was related to OP thickness (r = -0.6, P = 0.007, n = 18). Mean axial image EI was 10% higher in the APB and ADM after SCI (P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between muscle morphological properties and clinical features in the SCI participants. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate significant SCI atrophy and elevated EI that are muscle dependent.
STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. OBJECTIVES: To quantify differences in hand muscle morphology between persons with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and uninjured adults. SETTING: The study was performed at the Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital. METHODS: We quantified hand muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), thickness, and echo intensity (EI) in 18 persons with subacute to chronic SCI and 23 controls using ultrasound imaging. RESULTS: Mean SCI abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi (ADM), and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) CSA were ~26%, 43%, and 37% smaller than the control means, the deficit in the APB being less than the ADM (P < 0.05). Muscle thickness was also smaller after SCI, but deficits in ADM (31%) and FDI (20%) thickness were less than the CSA deficits (P < 0.05). In five SCI persons, APB CSA and/or opponens pollicis (OP) thickness were normal despite complete motor paralysis. Mean longitudinal image EI was 40% higher in the OP and 15% higher in the flexor pollicis brevis (FPB) after SCI (P < 0.05), suggesting denervation-induced infiltration of fat and fibrous tissues. OP EI was related to OP thickness (r = -0.6, P = 0.007, n = 18). Mean axial image EI was 10% higher in the APB and ADM after SCI (P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between muscle morphological properties and clinical features in the SCI participants. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate significant SCI atrophy and elevated EI that are muscle dependent.
Authors: P H Peckham; M W Keith; K L Kilgore; J H Grill; K S Wuolle; G B Thrope; P Gorman; J Hobby; M J Mulcahey; S Carroll; V R Hentz; A Wiegner Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2001-10 Impact factor: 3.966