Hereditary and developmental neuromuscular disorders

Abstract

This chapter considers those conditions characterized by weakness resulting from pathology primarily in the muscles or the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. In their later stages these disorders have recognizable clinical features, but in the early stages all share a common set of symptoms and physical signs. Generally, motor disorders are either genetic or acquired. Children with the former tend to present with weakness and delayed motor skills whereas those with the acquired type usually have fairly rapid progression of weakness and loss of function. Children who are floppy at birth are likely to be evaluated initially by a paediatrician or paediatric neurologist but the orthopaedic surgeon may be the first specialist to assess a child with a walking difficulty caused by Duchenne's or Becker's dystrophy. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2010.