Friedrich Ataxia

  • Most common form of spinocerebellar degenerative disease
  • Slow & progressive spinocerebellar degeneration
  • 1: 50000
  • autosomal recessive
  • male = female

Clinical

Triad – ataxia, areflexia of knees & hands, +ve babinski

  • Onset occurs before the age of 25
  • Decreased nerve conduction velocity
  • Other
    • 90% get scoliosis
    • loss of U/E & L/E  refelexes
    • loss of position & vibration sense
    • abnormal EKG
    • Pes Cavus
  • Mean age 7-15 years
  • Most individuals in wheelchair by 2-3 decade
  • Death by 4th –5th decade secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pneumonia or aspiration

Treatment

  • Pes Cavovarus
    • Weak peroneals  & usually rigid
    • Can transfer the Tibialis Posterior through the membrane
    • Late triple arthrodesis
  • Scoliosis
    • Essentially all patients
    • Similar to idiopathic rather than neuromuscular
    • Brace 25-40°
    • Surgery between 40-60° depending on age, growth remaining etc
    • Generally not required to pelvis