Sonographische Verlaufskontrolle nach experimenteller Muskeldenervierung

AIM: To describe sonographical results following acute, experimental muscle denervation. METHOD: Denervation of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles was performed in 28 New Zealand white rabbits by segmental resection of the suprascapular nerve. The changes in the sonographic image of the muscles were follow up and documented at short intervals over 2 months. RESULTS: The sonographically detectable changes following denervation follow a definite pattern. In addition to the reduction in muscle diameter, sonographical signs of denervation include an increase of echodensity and an inhomogeneity of echotexture that appeared on day 14 after injury and became more prominent at larger inter…