According to a new study, researchers believe that lower limb functional surgery improves walking ability and quality of life (QOL) in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). This option provides a new way to address movement difficulties associated with the condition. Find the full study results in the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System (JPNS).
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
Caused by a variety of gene mutations, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a rare neurological disorder. In some cases, you might hear CMT referred to as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. CMT gene mutations cause peripheral nerves to degenerate. As a result, muscles and nerves can no longer communicate. Typically, symptoms of CMT begin in adolescence or early adulthood. Symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness and atrophy
- Difficulty with walking and fine motor skills
- Lower extremity weakness
- Foot drop
- Hand tremors
- Reduced sensation for touch
- Frequent tripping
- Foot deformities
Learn more about CMT.
The Study: Functional Surgery
Currently, there are no cures for CMT. Many accepted treatment options focus on addressing and treating symptoms through physical or occupational therapy, or even orthopedic devices. However, in some cases, surgery is used to fix walking-related issues. This type of surgery is known as functional surgery, as it serves to improve function by correcting bone and tissue defects in the lower extremities. However, because CMT is rare, there are not a lot of studies which examine the impact of functional surgery on patients and their movement.
In this recent study, researchers sourced data from 63 patients with CMT over a 51-year period. 44.4% of patients were male. 55.5% of patients were female. All patients underwent functional surgery at least one time, with 27 patients undergoing surgery more than once. 46 patients were adults at the time of their surgeries, while 17 patients were children. Typically, the surgeries were relatively safe and well-received. Only 5 patients experienced any complications or adverse reactions, including tendon detachment or other injuries.
Next, to determine both satisfaction and quality of life, researchers spoke to patients over the phone. Researchers analyzed data using the Walking Handicap Scale, while patients self-reported satisfaction via the Global Impression of Change Scale. Around 75% of patients, or 47, stated that functional surgery improved their walking ability. Although older patients were more likely to experience lower walking ability than younger patients, most patients suggested that they were satisfied with their treatment. Altogether, 49 patients shared that functional surgery reduced CMT symptoms.
However, since researchers sourced data from such a broad period, additional research is needed to see whether contemporary surgical techniques can improve satisfaction even more.
Read the source article here.
