Figure 2

The muscle biopsy procedure. A. The leg was exposed from the groin crease down to the ankle. The biopsy area over the vastus lateralis was shaved of hair, marked and isolated with a sterile drape that had a 10 cm aperture B. After the skin and subcutaneous tissue was infiltrated with local anaesthetic, the skin was punctured with a size 11 scalpel down to the fascia and the conchotome was inserted into the track made by the scalpel. The conchotome was rotated through 90° to cut the muscle C. Sustained pressure for 5 minutes was applied over the 5-10 mm incision to minimise bleeding D. The wound was closed with steri-strips and was dressed with absorbent dressing.