brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Spinal Muscular Atrophies (SMAs)
Treatment of SMAs
Physical and occupational therapy Braces and assistive devices Drugs that may improve muscle function and delay disability and death There is no cure for spinal muscular atrophies. Physical therapy and wearing braces can sometimes help. Physical and occupational therapists can provide adaptive devices to enable children to feed themselves, write, or use a computer. is injected into the space around the spinal cord. Before injecting the drug, doctors often numb the injection site with a small amount of local anesthetic. Then they insert a needle between two vertebrae in the lower spine, as is done for a Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture). -xioi is used to treat some children under 2 years old. Only one dose is given. It is given by vein (intravenously) over 1 hour. It appears to help children meet Childhood Development , such as sitting without support, eating, rolling over, and walking independently. is used to treat adults and children 2 years old and over. It is given as a liquid or through a feeding tube once a day. It may delay death and reduce the need for Mechanical Ventilation to help with breathing. 