title: Corticosteroid Treatment Impact on Spinal Deformity in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
abstract: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive disease with loss of ambulation at around 9-10 years of age, followed, if untreated, by development of scoliosis, respiratory insufficiency, and death in the second decade of life. This review highlights the natural history of the disease, in particular, with regard to the development of the spinal deformity and how this complication has been modified by surgical interventions and overall by corticosteroid treatment. The beneficial effect of corticosteroids may have also an impact on the clinical trial design of the new emerging causative therapies.
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanzarello
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Cell Biology, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, IRCCS, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merlini
authors.affiliation: General Orthopedic Surgery, Rizzoli-Sicilia Department, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bagheria, 90011 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Traina
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele Attilio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: General Orthopedic Surgery, Rizzoli-Sicilia Department, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bagheria, 90011 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faldini