Ankle-Foot Orthosis in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A 4 year Experience in a Multidisciplinary Neuromuscular Disorders Clinic

Objective To assess Ankle-Foot-Orthosis (AFO) requirement and ambulation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) patients seen over a period of 4 y at a multi-disciplinary Neuromuscular disorders clinic (NMD) . Methods A study was conducted in university quaternary research hospital with DMD patients c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of pediatrics 2017-03, Vol.84 (3), p.211-215
Main Authors: Gupta, Anupam, Nalini, Atchayaram, Arya, Shanti Prakash, Vengalil, Seena, Khanna, Meeka, Krishnan, Rashmi, Taly, Arun B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Foot Orthoses
Gynecology
Humans
India
Infant
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne - rehabilitation
Original Article
Pediatrics
Treatment Outcome
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objective To assess Ankle-Foot-Orthosis (AFO) requirement and ambulation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) patients seen over a period of 4 y at a multi-disciplinary Neuromuscular disorders clinic (NMD) . Methods A study was conducted in university quaternary research hospital with DMD patients confirmed by MLPA (multiplex ligation – dependent probe amplification) method and were evaluated between January 2012 and December 2015. Their ambulatory status, detailed neurological and functional status were recorded. Requirement of AFOs was determined and provided. Results In total 126 DMD children reported to the NMD clinic. Mean age at presentation was 7.6 y (range 2 to12 y, SD 2.1). Mean duration of illness at first evaluation was 3.4 y (range 0.5 to 10 y, SD 2.0). AFO’s were advised at a mean age of 8.5 y (range 7 to 12 y, SD 1.8). Fifty-nine patients were advised AFO as resting or walking splint. At last follow-up 113 patients were still ambulatory whereas 13 had become wheel chair bound. Out of 59 patients, 48 were still wearing AFOs and the remaining discontinued AFOs for various reasons. Conclusions Children with DMD require wearing of AFOs as resting or walking splint, mostly in first or early second decade of life. As there is some gap between onset of clinical signs and requirement of orthosis, follow-up preferably at a multidisciplinary clinic at regular intervals is desirable for timely intervention in the form of AFOs or other splints to prolong ambulatory status in these patients.
ISSN:0019-5456
0973-7693
DOI:10.1007/s12098-016-2251-7