Gastrointestinal involvement in neuromuscular disorders.

Although not often discussed, many of the neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) affect the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Depending on the type of NMD, the prevalence of GIT involvement ranges from <5% (e.g.

Dynamic Standing Exercise using the Innowalk Device in Patients with Genetic and Acquired Motor Impairments.

Objective: For individuals with motor impairments, dynamic standing has been proposed as an opportunity for regular daily physical activity. The aim of this study was to analyse patient characteristics, indications, intensity of usage, desired objectives and outcomes of dynamic standing in daily clinical practice in order to form the basis for research regarding this treatment option.

Setting: Data were analysed from standardized questionnaires completed prospectively before supply of a home-based medical device for dynamic standing (Innowalk; Made for Movement GmbH, Langenhagen, Germany) and at the time of individual adaptations.

Best clinical practice in botulinum toxin treatment for children with cerebral palsy.

Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) is considered a safe and effective therapy for children with cerebral palsy (CP), especially in the hands of experienced injectors and for the majority of children. Recently, some risks have been noted for children with Gross Motor Classification Scale (GMFCS) of IV and the risks are substantial for level V. Recommendations for treatment with BoNT-A have been published since 1993, with continuous optimisation and development of new treatment concepts.

Subtalar extra-articular screw arthroereisis (SESA) for the treatment of flexible flatfoot in children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe a subtalar extra-articular screw arthroereisis (SESA) technique for the correction of flexible flatfoot (FFF) in children and report the outcome.

Methods: From 1990 to 2012, data were collected on 485 patients who underwent SESA at the San Raffaele Hospital. The average age of the patient cohort was 11.

Seating.

Introduction: Patients with neuromuscular disorders are not able to adapt their sitting posture continuously. Seating devices, like seating orthoses, braces, seating shells, and custom-made cushions for wheelchairs, however may improve their quality of life by stabilizing their pelvis and trunk. Sitting should be regarded as a dynamic process regulated by motor reactions of trunk and pelvic muscles due to endogenic and exogenic influences.

Orthopaedic abnormalities in primary myopathies.

Orthopaedic abnormalities are frequently recognised in patients with myopathy but are hardly systematically reviewed with regard to type of myopathy, type of orthopaedic problem, and orthopaedic management. This review aims to summarize recent findings and current knowledge about orthopaedic abnormalities in these patients, their frequency, and possible therapeutic interventions. A MEDLINE search for the combination of specific terms was carried out and appropriate articles were reviewed for the type of myopathy, types of orthopaedic abnormalities, frequency of orthopaedic abnormalities, and possible therapeutic interventions.

Causes of camptocormia.

Purpose: To identify and highlight the variable causes of camptocormia.

Method: Literature review.

Results: Camptocormia (bent spine syndrome) is an acquired postural disease characterised by forward flexion of the thoraco-lumbar spine.

Presentation, etiology, diagnosis, and management of camptocormia.

Camptocormia (bent spine syndrome, cyphose hystérique) is an abnormality characterized by severe forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine which typically increases during walking or standing and completely disappears in supine position. Camptocormia can be due to central nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, multisystem atrophy, or Alzheimer's disease, due to peripheral nervous system diseases, such as primary myopathy, secondary myopathy, motor neuron disease, myasthenia, or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, due to side effects of drug treatment, due to disc herniation, arthritis or spinal trauma, or due to paraneoplasia. Only rarely may camptocormia be attributable to psychiatric disease.

Neurogenic hip dislocation in cerebral palsy: quality of life and results after hip reconstruction.

Background: At birth, no difference exists between the hips of children with spastic cerebral palsy and the hips of other children. The typical pathologic deformities of the hips in children with spastic cerebral palsy develop as the child gets older. One of our goals was to evaluate the change in quality of life of children with cerebral palsy after hip reconstruction.