eMedicine Specialties > Orthopedic Surgery > Pediatrics

Muscular Dystrophy: Follow-up

Author: Twee Do, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Director, Neuromuscular Orthopedic Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 31, 2009

Outcome and Prognosis

Despite modern advances in gene therapy and molecular biology, MD remains incurable. With proper care and attention, patients have a better quality of life than they would otherwise, but most still die by the time they are age 30 years, usually as a result of cardiopulmonary failure.

Future and Controversies

The ability of advancing technology and molecular biology with fetal blood detection of affected fetuses as early as the first trimester opens the door to many ethical issues. One such issue is whether pregnancy termination should be available as an option when a muscle disease is detected that may be fatal in the third decade of life.

 


More on Muscular Dystrophy

Overview: Muscular Dystrophy
Workup: Muscular Dystrophy
Treatment: Muscular Dystrophy
Follow-up: Muscular Dystrophy
References
Further Reading
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Keywords

muscular dystrophy, MD, dystrophinopathies, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Duchenne MD, Becker muscular dystrophy, Becker MD, congenital muscular dystrophy, congenital MD, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss MD, dystrophin defects, Gower sign, Gower's sign, progressive muscle weakness, proximal muscle weakness, PTC124, PTC-124

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Twee Do, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Director, Neuromuscular Orthopedic Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Twee Do, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Academy of Pediatrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Charles T Mehlman, DO, MPH, Director, Musculoskeletal Outcomes Research, Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Charles T Mehlman, DO, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Fracture Association, American Medical Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, American Osteopathic Association, Arthroscopy Association of North America, North American Spine Society, Ohio State Medical Association, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, and Scoliosis Research Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

George H Thompson, MD, Director, Pediatric Orthopedics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
George H Thompson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, and Scoliosis Research Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS, Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Chief of Arthroscopic Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, American College of International Physicians, and American College of Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dennis P Grogan, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Chief of Staff, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shriners Hospital for Children of Tampa
Dennis P Grogan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Eastern Orthopaedic Association, Irish American Orthopaedic Society, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, and Scoliosis Research Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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