This study will quantify and examine the extent to which the quadriceps femoris muscle group atrophies following tibial plateau fractures and the length of time that atrophy affects function. The study will also look at the effects of tibial plateau fractures on the quadriceps muscle and the effect this atrophy has on functional outcome. Quadriceps atrophy will be measured both clinically and by using MRI scans taken pre-operatively, 3 months post operatively, and 1 year post-operatively. The injured leg and the non-injured leg will be scanned in order for the non-injured leg to serve as the control. In this way muscle volume can be estimated from the muscle thickness at specific locations in the thigh. The muscle strength of the quadriceps will also be assessed at the 3 month and 1 year visit by measuring isokinetic knee-extension torque, and functional assessment questionnaires will be completed at each study visit.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
13
New York University Langone Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Cross-sectional area (CSA) calculations
From the axial images obtained from the MRI for each leg, outlines of each muscle in the quadriceps femoris muscle group will be traced and used to calculate.
Time frame: 1 Year
Quadriceps muscle strength
This will be measured by the highest knee-extension torque over six repetitions for each leg.
Time frame: One Year
Muscle Volume
This will be measured by the sum of the CSAs (Cross Sectional Areas) of each image times the thickness (10mm) and interslice gap (10mm) of each section
Time frame: One Year
Pain Level
This will be measured by the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment Questionnaire (SMFA)
Time frame: One Year
Isokinetic Knee-Extension Strength Test
This test will be conducted on both legs to compare the physical strength of the injured leg with the non-injured leg.
Time frame: One year
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