Spinal management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in children

Abstract

The natural history of spinal deformities in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is that 70--90% develop significant spinal deformities leading to seating difficulties. The more routine use of corticosteroids to preserve muscle strength has decreased the frequency of these interventions. As bracing is poorly tolerated in this group of patients, the surgical correction of spinal deformities in Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been widely accepted since the early 1980s. It is thought that spinal surgery improves comfort and sitting balance, but the effect on pulmonary function or longevity is still uncertain.