Ultrasound for Rectus Femoris Measurement

Plain-language summary

Postoperative protocols for orthopedic procedures on the lower limb often require a period of immobilization to protect the surgical site. The consequence of this immobilization is muscle atrophy which can be severe, delaying a patient's return to activity and predisposing them to recovery complications or subsequent injury (1)(2). The current standard methods to assess lower limb muscle atrophy all have their respective limitations. Thigh circumference or isokinetic strength values are indirect measures of atrophy and can be inaccurate. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) is time-consuming and expensive. Computed tomography imaging of muscle CSA is expensive and exposes the patient to radiation (3). For these reasons, none of the current methods are ideal for regular use in the clinic. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a promising measurement tool to assess muscle atrophy in postoperative patients. Ultrasound is non-invasive, cost-effective, does not involve radiation, and can give direct images of muscle size (4). Musculoskeletal ultrasound requires further research on its potential as an evaluation tool for postoperative lower limb orthopedic patients-specifically, whether ultrasound is a reliable and valid tool for quadriceps size measurements.

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