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Jeremy Frank, MD - US. Olympic Training Center
Orthopedic conditions affect people of all ages, from new borns to elderly individuals. Some conditions may be congenital while some may be developed after birth.
Our expert team of physicians, surgeons and nurses specialize in providing the utmost care and best possible treatment for spine disorders in the pediatric population.
Sports medicine involves treating sports injuries which occur when playing indoor or outdoor sports or while exercising.
The hip joint is one of the body’s largest weight-bearing joints and is the point where the thigh bone (femur) and the pelvis (acetabulum) join.
Limb lengthening is a reconstructive procedure where the deformed bone is straightened or missing bone is replaced.

Intermediate Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Intermediate spinal muscular atrophy or type 2 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder characterized by generalized muscle weakness and wasting.Intermediate spinal muscular atrophy is caused by gene mutation and affects the motor neurons, the nerves of the spinal cord that control muscle movement. Symptoms usually occur between the ages of 7 and 18 months, and include poor muscle tone, high susceptibility to respiratory infections, swallowing and feeding problems, hand, feet and chest deformities, legs weaker than the arms and tendon contractures at the joints. Complications such as breathing difficulty and spinal curvature or scoliosis may occur.

While some patients with this condition may die early, many others live into adulthood (especially when diagnosed after the age of 18 months).Intermediate spinal muscular atrophy is diagnosed based on physical examination, medical history review and DNA testing. Other laboratory tests such as electromyography (measures the electrical activity of muscles), nerve conduction velocity test (assesses how well the nerves are functioning in response to an electrical stimulus) and muscle biopsy, may be performed to rule out neuromuscular conditions.

There is no cure for intermediate spinal muscular atrophy. However, your child’s symptoms are managed to achieve maximum quality-of-life. Symptoms can be managed through respiratory medicine, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. Exercises for maintaining muscle strength such as supported standing, and appropriate equipment such as splints, braces and wheelchairs are recommended. In addition, respiratory exercises and other breathing techniques may be recommended.