Neuromuscular Service
Mater Children’s Hospital Neuromuscular Service provides assessment, investigation and management of children with suspected or proven neuromuscular disorders such as:
- duchene muscular dystrophy
- congenital myopathies
- myotonic dystrophy
- spinal muscular atrophy
- limb girdle dystrophies
- peripheral neuropathies (eg. charcot-marie-tooth syndrome)
- congenital or autoimmune myasthenia.
The neuromuscular service comprises three paediatric neurologists with a special interest in neuromuscular disorders:
- Dr Geoff Wallace at Mater Children's Hospital
- Dr Kate Sinclair at the Royal Children's Hospital
- Dr Anita Cairns, working across both children's hospital sites.
They work closely with allied health professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and social workers.
The service also collaborates with clinical geneticists, orthopaedic surgeons, cardiologists and respiratory physicians to provide a holistic and combined medical approach for children with neuromuscular disorders. The service coordinates the investigation of children with neuromuscular disorders including neurophysiological investigations such as nerve conduction studies and electromyography, genetic investigations, MRI scans and muscle biopsies. A regular multidisciplinary clinic is held at Montrose Access.
Children may be referred to the Neuromuscular Service by their general practitioner or paediatrician if:
- there is a delay in gross motor milestones, frequent falls, weakness or fatigue without an alternative diagnosis
- there is clinical suspicion of a neuromuscular disorder with signs such as calf hypertrophy, muscle wasting or pes cavus
- there is a family history of neuromuscular disorder such as duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, charcot-marie-tooth, myotonic dystrophy or limb girdle muscular dystrophy
- there is a confirmed diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder requiring a multidisciplinary approach.
Newborns with poor movement in the presence of respiratory failure or arthrogryposis can receive an urgent review through the service. In this situation, direct discussion between the child's treating physician and one of the paediatric neurologists involved in the Neuromuscular Service via Mater Hospital's switchboard is advised, in addition to the usual written referral.
Mater Children's Hospital Neuromuscular Service is proudly supported by Mater and Queensland Health.