Calf extra-Fascial compartment area affects calf muscle pumping action: an air plethysmography and computed tomography study

Abstract

Objectives

We aimed to elucidate whether lower limb extra-fascial compartment and muscle areas affect the calf muscle pumping action on lower limbs.

Method

This study included 90 patients (180 limbs) who underwent preoperative air plethysmography (APG) and preoperative non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of the lower limbs for diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral primary varicose veins. A correlation between cross-sectional CT images and preoperative APG was confirmed. Cross-sectional CT was used to measure the extra-fascial compartment and muscle areas of the calf. The lower limbs were divided into two groups: those that were normal and those with primary varicose veins.

Results

The extra-fascial compartment area was significantly correlated with the ejection fraction in normal (r = 0.388, n = 53, p = 0.004) and varicose limbs (r = 0.232, n = 91, p = 0.027).

Conclusions

In normal and varicose limbs, evaluation of ejection fraction, an indicator of muscle pumping, requires consideration of the extra-fascial compartment area.

Keywords

Muscle pumping action ejection fraction lower limb fat and muscle air plethysmography normal and varicose limbs

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