The natural history of pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy leads ultimately to progressive lower-extremity contracture with loss of strength and balance until eventually walking is no longer possible. Subcutaneous lowe-extremity tenotomy and bracing have proved successful in the treatment of twenty-one patients.
We believe that this technique offers a method of prolonging walking in the patient with pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy. In so doing, confinement to a wheel chair or bed with its inevitable downhill course may be significantly forestalled.