A longitudinal MRI study of muscle atrophy during lower leg immobilization following ankle fracture.

Purpose: To investigate MRI biomarkers of muscle atrophy during cast immobilization of the lower leg.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen patients (8 male, 10 female), who had one lower leg immobilized in a cast, underwent 3.0 Tesla (T) MR imaging 5, 8, 15, 29, and 43 days after casting.