The relationship between ambulation capacity, spasticity and piriformis muscle thickness in patients with chronic spinal cord injury: A controlled, clinical and sonographic study.

Context: The main rehabilitation goals for patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are to reduce disability, limit impairment, and regain walking ability. Many prognostic factors affect the recovery and ambulation capacity of patients. After SCI, muscles below the lesion level change morphologically.

Objective: As the muscle thickness is a significant factor for identifying muscle strength, joint functions and joint torque, the aim of this study was to compare piriformis muscle (PM) maximum thickness in patients with incomplete SCI, with those of a sex, age, weight and height-matched control group. Maximum PM thickness was also compared between cases of incomplete and complete SCI in order to estimate whether spasticity and ambulatory status influence PM thickness after incomplete chronic SCI.

Methods: The demographic data, injury characteristics, and clinical findings were recorded for each patient. Muscle thickness was measured using ultrasonography and relationships between PM thickness and demographic and clinical findings were analyzed and compared between the groups.

Results: The PM thickness of SCI patients was determined to be significantly lower than that of the healthy control subjects. No significant differences were observed in the comparisons of other values between patients with incomplete SCI and the control group.

Conclusion: Significant muscle atrophy of the PM is seen in SCI. There is a need for further investigation of the relationship between muscle size and function, and physiological deficits in skeletal muscle and functional ability after SCI.