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