Serial casting in ambulant DMD
To participate in this study, contact: Kate Carroll
Research site: Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
| Disorder/Disease | Serial casting in ambulant DMD |
| Coordinator | Kate Carroll |
| Project aim/s | To assess the hypothesis that below-knee serial casting in boys with DMD who have well-preserved strength can reduce ankle contractures and improve gait parameters, without adversely affecting function. |
| Methods | Bilateral below-knee serial casting (max 4 sets of casts within 2 weeks). 12 month follow-up |
| Patient inclusion/exclusion criteria | A diagnosis of DMD confirmed by DNA testing or muscle biopsy |
| Aged 4 years or greater | |
| Independently ambulant over a distance of at least 75 metres and able to complete a 6 minute walk test | |
| With a measurable calf contracture | |
| With full passive knee extension or a knee flexion contracture ≤ 5° | |
| With quadriceps lag < 5° | |
| With hip and knee flexor and extensor strength of at least grade 4+ on manual muscle testing | |
| Who are cognitively and emotionally able to cope with the treatment | |
| Whose family supports the treatment and undertakes to complete the protocol | |
| Patient information required for the study | |
| Supporting documentation that can be provided | |
| Closing date for patient registration | Ethics approved until Feb 2013. We are likely to extend this. |
| Contact | Kate Carroll |