Ultrasound Assessment Of Muscle Injury Associated With Closed Limb Fracture

Abstract

According to the pathogenetic mechanism, muscle injuries are classified as extrinsic injuries such as contusions and penetrating wounds, where the site of the lesion corresponds to the site of impact, and intrinsic injuries caused by contraction and contemporary elongation of the muscles leading to muscle fiber destruction at the myotendinous junction. Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue mass of the human body, accounting for almost 50% of the weight of an average person. Lower limb fractures account for approximately one third of all fractures and may result in substantial mortality and morbidity. Imaging can be useful to confirm an injury and define the exact location and muscles involved. It can assess the extent of injury and thus guide treatment. Imaging can help to identify complications after muscle injury that will require surgical intervention or require a delay in return to physical activity. US examination of a patient with suspected muscle injury should always be preceded by an accurate reporting of the patient’s medical history including the mechanism of injury, symptoms, possible pain and loss of strength, and a careful clinical evaluation which may reveal the presence of masses or morphological alterations of the of anatomical part under consideration. The resolution of ultrasound images has improved rapidly in recent years. Ultrasound machines with high-frequency (12e15 MHz) linear array transducers provide better image resolution and are widely used to evaluate superficial soft tissue structures such as muscle, tendon, ligament, and bursa. They are therefore commonly referred to as musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) machines