The main findings of this study showed that compared with asymptomatic control group, the VMO and VLM atrophy was existed in the sections that 0–20 mm above the upper pole of the patella in PFPS patients; and the atrophy of the VMO was more evident than that of the VLM in the section that 0–5 mm above the upper pole of the patella. These findings support the rationale for use of general quadriceps exercise with VMO strengthening exercise as part of rehabilitation program for patients with PFPS. As far as we know, this is the first study to evaluate the cross-sectional area of the VMO and VLM and their ratio between normal people and patients with PFPS on CT scans.
It is worth noting that the VMO as a dynamic medial soft tissue stabilizer plays an important role in the stability of the patellofemoral joint, and this is attributed to its special structure: the VMO has the distal muscle insertion that is 50°angle to the longitudinal patellar alignmen, and it also has the strong meshing fibers with the medial patellofemoral ligament near its distal insertion [9, 10, 17].
Studies shown that in patients complaining of PFPS, the quadriceps manifested as weakness [7, 18]. Though it is well known that maximum strength is related to muscle size [19], whether the VMO atrophy is existed in PFPS is still controversy [11–15].
Three measurements were used to evaluate the atrophy of the VMO: tape measurement, ultrasound and MR imaging. In the clinical setting, girth measurements with a tape is the most common estimations of quadriceps atrophy, but this method involves other thigh muscles as well as bone and subcutaneous fat. MR imaging is the “gold standard” of muscular measurement, the mean differences between ultrasound and MR imaging was only 0.8% [15].
Like MRI, CT is also considered as a highly precise imaging modality in investigating area and volume of muscle and has a reported precision error of about 1.4% for tissue areas, both scanning methods are able to distinguish muscle mass from fat [20]. In the present study, we first selected CT as our measurement method, and we found the cross-sectional area of the VMO was significantly smaller in patients with PFPS in comparison with normal people, the VMO atrophy was certainly existed in this population.
Not only the VMO, the VLM in the subjects with PFPS had decreased muscle strength according to electromyography [7]. But there is a lack of literature comparing the size of the VMO relative to the VML between PFPS and asymptomatic limbs. Only Giles et al. [21] and Pattyn et al. [13] reported that selective atrophy of the VMO relative to the VLM was not identified in people with PFP by using ultrasound and MR imaging respectively. But Giles did not measure the cross sectional area of the muscle but the thickness, and Pattyn only measured the VMO/VLM area ratio on the patellar level and mid-thigh level.
In the present study, we remeasured the cross-sectional area of the VLM, and evaluated VMO/VLM area ratio on CT scans in the section that 0–20 mm above the upper pole of the patella. We found that the VLM atrophy was existed in the study group; and the atrophy of the VMO atrophy was more evident than VLM 0–5 mm above the upper pole of the patella. The distal portion is the main functional area of the VMO to confine the patellar maltracking, the obvious VMO atrophy must influence the patellar stability.
The finding of the VMO and VML atrophy, especially the distal insertion of the VMO in the subjects with PFPS contributes to understanding the mechanisms of PFPS [7, 18]. Decreased quadriceps weakness that was resulted from atrophy or pain limiting force production, pain-induced inhibition of the quadriceps musculature, or physiological changes of the quadriceps musculature has been suggested as a potential cause of PFPS [12, 15, 23]. Though we can not decided that whether atrophy was a predisposing factor or developed after the onset of PFPS, because of the exist of the VMO and VLM atrophy, physiotherapy with strengthening of the quadriceps must be beneficial for patients to restore quadriceps strength and relieve pain [22].
Isolated VMO activation protocol has been used to treat patellofemoral pain and instability, but Syme et al. [22] indicated that there was no different between rehabilitation with selective VMO exercise and general quadriceps strengthening exercises. In the present study, we still suggested VMO strengthening exercise to patients with PFPS, because of the atrophy of the VMO, especially its distal portion. But we should not overlook the contribution of the VLM and other muscles of the quadriceps to the patellar stability, general quadriceps exercise was also suggested. In conclusion, the protocol that general quadriceps exercise combined with VMO strengthening exercise maybe a better choice.
One of the limitations of this study is that the sample size was small and the present study was a single-center retrospective study, which could lead to deviations. And the CT examination is performed after patients complaining of PFPS. Therefore, we cannot determine whether the change of the VMO and VLM is the cause or result of PFPS.