On May 5, the Ministry of Health issued a technical procedure for the treatment of Delta muscle atrophy. This protocol will be disseminated to localities from now on.
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A case of Delta muscle atrophy in Ha Tay |
Accordingly, for mild cases, surgery will be performed immediately at district and provincial hospitals. Special cases will be referred to higher-level facilities.
In this procedure, the Ministry of Health outlines the diagnostic criteria for Delta muscle atrophy: the patient’s arms do not close fully against the chest when standing naturally, and the shoulder blades protrude with a groove along the axis of the Delta muscle. Indications for Delta muscle atrophy patients include an inability to use a comb to style hair, difficulty scratching the opposite side of the back, challenges in putting on clothes, and pain around the shoulder joint.
The only current treatment method is surgery. After anesthesia or local anesthesia, a long incision of 3-5 cm is made to cut and relieve the fibrous muscle band, allowing the arm to close more easily against the chest. After surgery, patients will need to undergo rehabilitation training.
The goal is for patients to be able to perform daily activities three months post-surgery, depending on their age and occupation. The technical procedure does not specify the duration for each surgical case. The costs for each surgery and support for these cases have not yet been addressed.
District and provincial doctors will be trained in diagnostic and surgical skills for Delta muscle atrophy patients. Previously, many parents noticed abnormal development in their children’s arms and shoulders, but doctors at district hospitals failed to identify the condition. Therefore, it is essential to implement this technique for lower-level doctors in the near future.
It is known that since January 2006, the Central Children’s Hospital has been implementing a ministerial-level project on Delta muscle fibrosis. The project is expected to be completed in August, aiming to find the causes of this disease.
To date, approximately 2,000 patients with Delta muscle atrophy have been identified in various localities such as Phu Tho, Ha Tinh, Son La, and Ha Tay… Of these, 1,200 individuals have undergone surgery. The post-operative results have been very positive, with many children able to engage in normal activities and even participate in sports.
Le Ha
