Further Outpatient Care

See the list below:

Patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) should have frequent follow-up care for symptomatic control of their disease. Respiratory function, nutritional state, orthopedic status, and equipment needs should be assessed at each visit. Pain control, preventative medicine, surgical intervention, and physical therapy are all essential parts of the patient's long-term care. The multidisciplinary approach, which includes family members, social workers, therapists, and physicians, is important to assist the patient in maintaining a high quality of life.

Complications

See the list below:

Scoliosis
Plantar flexion contractures
Dysphagia

Prognosis

See the list below:

Patients with spinal muscular atrophy experience a progressive loss of motor function that usually affects the legs before it does the arms, and the proximal muscles before the distal ones.
Patients who have never climbed stairs without a rail lose walking ability by their midteens. Patients who develop normal walking skills prior to the onset of muscle weakness can maintain this ability until the third or fourth decade.
Life expectancy for individuals with SMA type III has been shown to be similar to that of the general population.^[9]
See Mortality/Morbidity.

Questions

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Author

Joyce L Oleszek, MD Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine; Co-Director, Rhizotomy Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado

Joyce L Oleszek, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Stephanie E Vallee, MS Certified Genetic Counselor, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Children's Hospital at Dartmouth

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael Dichiaro, MD Senior Instructor, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado

Michael Dichiaro, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists, American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary Louise Caire, MD Consulting Staff, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wise Regional Medical Center

Mary Louise Caire, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Texas Medical Association, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA Clinical Professor, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Kat Kolaski, MD Assistant Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Kat Kolaski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Additional Contributors

Teresa L Massagli, MD Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine

Teresa L Massagli, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.