Treating Campomelic Dysplasia

Spinal Deformity Treatment

Treating spinal deformities is essential for helping the child with this condition have a high quality of life. The most common type of spinal deformity treatment you will see for children is bracing. The brace will help support the spine and encourage it to grow straight. Whether or not this is enough for a child born with campomelic dysplasia will depend on the severity of the spinal deformity. Another option is to have a 'growing' rod surgically implanted into the child's back. These rods are a great option in some cases because they help support the spine without hindering it from growing. The rod is attached to the child's spine just above and below the curve. This treatment, while effective, does require follow-up visits every six months to adjust the rods. Sometimes, the rod needs to be replaced altogether if the child has outgrown it.

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Splints And Casts

One of the more common symptoms of campomelic dysplasia, known as clubfoot, can be helped through the use of splints and casts. Casts are most effective for helping with a clubfoot when they are started very early on. Two weeks old is a good time to start due to the elasticity of ligaments at that point. After doing simple stretches, a cast is placed on the feet. The cast will extend from the toes up to the upper thigh, and the knees are left at a right angle. Every week these casts are removed, the stretches are repeated, and new casts are put on. The idea is that every time the casts are put on, the feet are closer to normal. The number of cycles to cure this issue can be anywhere from five casts to nine, depending on the level of flexibility present. After the casting phase is over, splints are used to maintain the results. They are worn all of the time for two to three months and then nightly for up to five years.

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