Architectural Changes in the Medial Gastrocnemius on Sonography after Nerve Ablation in Healthy Adults

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal Vol. 60; no. 9; pp. 876 - 881
• Main Authors: Park, Jae Eun, Seong, Yeon-Jae, Kim, Eun Sang, Park, Dongho, Lee, Yonghyun, Park, Hyerin, Rha, Dong-wook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Yonsei University College of Medicine 01.09.2019; 연세대학교의과대학
• Subjects: Brief Communication; 의학일반; muscle thickness; nerve ablation; Pennation angle; fascicle length; muscle architecture; ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2019.60.9.876

Architectural changes in healthy muscle after denervation have not yet been reported. This study aimed to investigate architectural changes in the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle (GCM) after aesthetic tibial nerve ablation in healthy adults using ultrasonography (US). The effects of tibial nerve ablation were verified by visual observation and surface electromyography analysis. US images of medial GCMs were taken by one trained physician using B-mode and real-time US with a linear-array probe before nerve ablation, at 1 week after nerve ablation and at 3 months after nerve ablation in an anatomic standing position with the feet about shoulder-width apart in 19 healthy adults (17 females and 2 males). Muscle thickness was significantly reduced on the left side at 1 week and 3 months after the procedure and on the right side at 3 months after the procedure ( <0.050). Although fascicle length was not significantly changed, pennation angle was significantly reduced on both sides at 3 months after the procedure ( <0.050). Muscle thickness and pennation angle of the muscle fascicle were significantly reduced, although fascicle length was not significantly changed, after tibial nerve ablation in the medial GCM of healthy adults.