[MRI study of the tissue volume progression of lower limbs in hemiplegic subjects]. / Etude de l'évolution des volumes des tissus des membres inférieurs chez le sujet hémiplégique par IRM.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was to present the first results of a study about lower limbs' soft tissues (fat and muscle) evolution using magnetic resonance images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance images method (MRI) was chosen instead of X-ray scanner for its non-invasive and non-radiating properties. Three hemiplegics volunteers were followed during the first 6 months of their therapy. Lower limbs' MRI captures were made at the beginning and in the end of this period. Computerized processing of the data allows automatic recognition of the main lower limb's tissues. Volumes were determined from images and classified in 4 categories (i.e. muscle, fat, spongy bone, cortical bone). RESULTS: Data analysing showed a different evolution of soft tissues in healthy lower limb compared to pathological lower limb. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION: This results should lead us to a better understanding of therapeutic efficiency.