Computed tomographic study of the skeletal musculature of the lower body in 45 postpolio patients.

Muscle computed tomography (CT) and muscle strength assessment of the pelvic girdle and leg muscles were performed in 32 postpolio patients experiencing new muscle weakness, and in 13 postpolio patients with stable neuromuscular condition. Muscles of the postpolio patients experiencing new muscle weakness showed significantly more CT scan abnormalities as compared with the stable postpolio patients. No other features discriminative of symptomatic postpolio patients were found. In individual patients, muscle CT scan evaluation is a useful adjunct to muscle strength assessment.