Demonstration of asymmetric muscle perfusion of the back after exercise in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI

The purpose of this work was to quantify muscular perfusion patterns of back muscles after exercise in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MR perfusion imaging. The paraspinal muscles of eight patients with AIS (Cobb angle 35 ± 10°, range [25‐47°]) and nine healthy volunteers were scanned with a 1.5 T MRI, at rest and after performing a symmetric back muscle exercise on a Roman chair. An IVIM sequence with 16 b ‐values from 0 to 900 s/mm 2 was acquired, and the IVIM bi‐exponential signal equation model was fitted in two steps. Perfusion asymmetries were evaluated using the blood flow related IVIM fD * parameter in regions of interest placed within the paraspinal muscles. Statistical significance was assessed using a Student t ‐test. The observed perfusion pattern after performing a Roman chair muscle exercise differed consistently in patients with AIS compared with healthy normal volunteers, and consisted of an asymmetrical increase in IVIM fD * [10 −3 mm 2 /s] above the lumbar convexity from 6.5 ± 5.8 to 28.8 ± 26.8 ( p < 0.005), with no increase in the concavity (decrease from 6.5 ± 10.0 to 3.2 ± 1.5 ( p = 0.19)), compared with a bilateral symmetric increase in the healthy volunteers (right, increase from 3.3 ± 2.1 to 10.1 ± 4.6 ( p < 0.05); left, 6.7 ± 10.7 to 13.3 ± 7.0 ( p < 0.05)). In conclusion, patients with AIS exhibit significant asymmetric muscle perfusion over the convexity of the scoliotic curvature after Roman chair exercise.