Secondary Muscle and Nerve Impairment in Primary Neuromuscular Disease

Abstract

Secondary muscle and nerve damage can occur in neuromuscular disease because of muscle, nerve, or soft tissue compromise or degeneration. Examples include chronic compartment syndrome in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), suprascapular nerve tether in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSH), adhesive capsulitis in the wheelchairbound child with DMD, carpal tunnel syndrome in FSH or DMD, peroneal neuropathy from an ill-fitting AFO, ankle injury in DMD due to weakness and proprioceptive loss, piriformis syndrome in the wheelchair-confined patient with neuromuscular disease, and ulnar neuropathy due to wheelchair armrest pressure in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Such complications to the primary disorder should be looked for as they often respond to appropriate treatment.