Abstract
To determine the frequency of fractures in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, their mechanism of production, age at appearance and functional repercussions. Sixty-five patients with spinal muscular atrophy were studied. Cases of fractures diagnosed by means of X-rays were collected and the following parameters were analysed: type of spinal muscular atrophy, gait, age at the time the fracture occurred, mechanism of production, location, treatment applied and functional repercussion. Thirteen patients (20%) presented a total of 20 fractures (four of them presented two or more fractures). The mean age was 6.35 years. The fractures were mostly located in the femur and the mechanism of production was falls in 12 cases and minor traumatic injury in eight. No vertebral fractures were detected. All of them were treated conservatively. The only patient with a fracture who was able to walk stopped walking after immobilisation. The existence of fractures in these patients interferes with their quality of life and their level of functioning. It is important to prevent them from occurring during management of the patient and by ensuring a correct posture in the wheelchair with the use of restraint systems. Further studies are needed on the loss of bone mineral density in these patients and their possible relationship with fractures.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
