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Fractures in proximal spinal muscular atrophy

  • Osteoporotic Fracture Management
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Fractures are a common problem for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Patients

A total of 131 patients with proximal SMA with an average age of 13.2 ± 9.2 years (0.7–65.6) were evaluated retrospectively. In 60 patients 94 different fractures were observed. The group consisted of 11 patients with type Ib, 81 with type II, 33 with type IIIa, 4 with IIIb and 2 with type IV. 38 of 81 SMA II patients and 17 of 33 SMA IIIa patients had suffered fractures at an average age of 8.3 ± 5.3 years (0.0–25.1) (SMA II) and 9.3 ± 6.0 years (0.0–22.1) (SMA IIIa).

Results

The most frequent fractures were of the femur (50), usually distal, of the lower leg and ankle (15), and upper arm (9). The distribution of fractures was different in SMA II and SMA IIIa. Most of the fractures could be treated conservatively. Only two femoral shaft fractures, one upper arm and a lower arm fracture were treated surgically by osteosynthesis.

Conclusion

Competent fracture treatment is an important part of the orthopaedic care of SMA patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Rathsberger Str. 57, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Albert Fujak, Raimund Forst, Lutz Arne Mueller & Jürgen Forst

  2. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Nürnberg Süd, Breslauer Str. 201, 90471, Nuremberg, Germany

    Carsten Kopschina

  3. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Florian Gras

Authors
  1. Albert Fujak
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  2. Carsten Kopschina
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  3. Raimund Forst
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  4. Florian Gras
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  5. Lutz Arne Mueller
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  6. Jürgen Forst
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Albert Fujak.

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Fujak, A., Kopschina, C., Forst, R. et al. Fractures in proximal spinal muscular atrophy. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 130, 775–780 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-010-1096-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-010-1096-1

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