AIMS: Achondroplasia is the most common form of osteochondrodysplasia and is associated with a number of life-threatening complications. The complexity of the condition led to the development of Heath Supervision Guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1995 and revised in 2005. There remains limited population-based information on utilisation of medical and therapy services for children with achondroplasia. Increased information regarding use of these services will assist in future service development. METHODS: Data regarding frequency and timing of medical and allied health consultations, investigations and interventions were collected from 53 Australasian families via questionnaire, based on recommendations of the Health Supervision Guidelines, an expert reference group and literature review. RESULTS: Rates varied with age for medical consultations (geneticist, paediatric rehabilitation physician/paediatrician, respiratory physician, orthopaedic consultant, neurologist, neurosurgeon), medical investigations (sleep study, magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography), operative procedures (brain-stem decompression, tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, shunt insertion, shunt revision and insertion of grommets) and allied health consultations (physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, dietician and orthotist). CONCLUSIONS: Access to geneticists and paediatricians within the first year is high as recommended by the 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Utilisation of craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography, polysomnography studies and formal speech review appears low, reflecting more emphasis on clinical monitoring for cervical cord compression and disordered sleep breathing as well as possible difficulties in accessing services for polysomnography and speech pathology. Grommet insertion, tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy and cervicomedullary decompression rates are similar to results reported previously. Over half of the children accessed physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy services, warranting consideration of these professionals in future guideline recommendations.
AIMS: Achondroplasia is the most common form of osteochondrodysplasia and is associated with a number of life-threatening complications. The complexity of the condition led to the development of Heath Supervision Guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1995 and revised in 2005. There remains limited population-based information on utilisation of medical and therapy services for children with achondroplasia. Increased information regarding use of these services will assist in future service development. METHODS: Data regarding frequency and timing of medical and allied health consultations, investigations and interventions were collected from 53 Australasian families via questionnaire, based on recommendations of the Health Supervision Guidelines, an expert reference group and literature review. RESULTS: Rates varied with age for medical consultations (geneticist, paediatric rehabilitation physician/paediatrician, respiratory physician, orthopaedic consultant, neurologist, neurosurgeon), medical investigations (sleep study, magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography), operative procedures (brain-stem decompression, tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, shunt insertion, shunt revision and insertion of grommets) and allied health consultations (physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, dietician and orthotist). CONCLUSIONS: Access to geneticists and paediatricians within the first year is high as recommended by the 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Utilisation of craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography, polysomnography studies and formal speech review appears low, reflecting more emphasis on clinical monitoring for cervical cord compression and disordered sleep breathing as well as possible difficulties in accessing services for polysomnography and speech pathology. Grommet insertion, tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy and cervicomedullary decompression rates are similar to results reported previously. Over half of the children accessed physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy services, warranting consideration of these professionals in future guideline recommendations.
Authors: Marco Zaffanello; Gaetano Cantalupo; Giorgio Piacentini; Emma Gasperi; Luana Nosetti; Paolo Cavarzere; Diego Alberto Ramaroli; Aliza Mittal; Franco Antoniazzi Journal: World J Pediatr Date: 2016-10-15 Impact factor: 2.764
Authors: Ravi Savarirayan; Penny Ireland; Melita Irving; Dominic Thompson; Inês Alves; Wagner A R Baratela; James Betts; Michael B Bober; Silvio Boero; Jenna Briddell; Jeffrey Campbell; Philippe M Campeau; Patricia Carl-Innig; Moira S Cheung; Martyn Cobourne; Valérie Cormier-Daire; Muriel Deladure-Molla; Mariana Del Pino; Heather Elphick; Virginia Fano; Brigitte Fauroux; Jonathan Gibbins; Mari L Groves; Lars Hagenäs; Therese Hannon; Julie Hoover-Fong; Morrys Kaisermann; Antonio Leiva-Gea; Juan Llerena; William Mackenzie; Kenneth Martin; Fabio Mazzoleni; Sharon McDonnell; Maria Costanza Meazzini; Josef Milerad; Klaus Mohnike; Geert R Mortier; Amaka Offiah; Keiichi Ozono; John A Phillips; Steven Powell; Yosha Prasad; Cathleen Raggio; Pablo Rosselli; Judith Rossiter; Angelo Selicorni; Marco Sessa; Mary Theroux; Matthew Thomas; Laura Trespedi; David Tunkel; Colin Wallis; Michael Wright; Natsuo Yasui; Svein Otto Fredwall Journal: Nat Rev Endocrinol Date: 2021-11-26 Impact factor: 47.564