Normative Data of Muscle Fiber Diameter of Vastus Lateralis During Childhood: a Field Test

Introduction: Currently, our knowledge of standard data for muscle morphology in children is largely limited to the 1969 article by Brooke and Engel (BE). In 2016, we reported normal muscle morphology from vastus lateralis biopsies in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). This report compares our normal biopsy results against BE standard value criteria.

Methods: Single-blind prospective cross-sectional study design.

Results: Results of biopsies taken in ambulant children with CP were normal according to morphometry and light and electron microscopy; however, only 5 of 10 fulfilled the BE standard value criteria.

Discussion: This short report highlights the requirement for contemporary age-specific normative data from a larger number of biopsies, including typically developing children. Review of the literature suggests that biopsy material may be available from typically developing children who were control patients in research trials. This morphometric data could contribute to expanding the normative data set. Muscle Nerve 59:590-590, 2019.