An observational study in Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, AMC-Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita and Pediatric ALL, sponsored by University Hospital, Grenoble. Completed at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 0 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-01-04.
Sponsored by University Hospital, Grenoble · Observational
The aim of our study is to evaluate the correlation between quantified fibro-adipous infiltration of muscles on MRI assessed by MERCURI Score and the functional abilities (deficiencies, activity limitations and social participation of pediatric patients with arthrogryposis.
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a group of rare diseases characterized by joint contractures at two or more distinct joint levels at birth. More than 400 causes are currently known. The prevalence is estimated at 1/3000 to 1/2000. Joint limitations are not progressive, but the functional consequences have a lifelong impact on patients.
Correlations between fibro-adipous infiltration and muscular deficits have already been studied in other neuromuscular diseases such as Pompe disease or Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These studies concluded on a good correlation between disease progression and severity, muscle strength, and fatty infiltration assessed by Mercuri score. The investigators concluded that muscular MRI can be used as a non-invasive biomarker and a tool to follow the progression of neuromuscular disease and help evaluate the potential effects of therapies.
The aim of this project is to define whether MRI could also be used as a tool, through the assessment of muscle fatty infiltration, to help predict the functional abilities of our patients with AMC, and more specifically the two most frequent types, Amyoplasia and distal arthrogryposis.
The investigators will analyze fatty infiltration measured by muscle MRI and quantify it using the MERCURI score which was developed by Mercuri et al. (Mercuri et al. 2002) as a semi-quantitative score to quantify fibro-adipose muscle infiltration on muscle MRI.
The investigators will evaluate musculoskeletal deficiencies and limitations of activity from data obtained from patients followed in our AMC reference center at the University Hospital Grenoble Alpes (CHUGA).
The investigators will include data from 220 children, 97 of whom have had a complete check-up including a muscle MRI. The investigators will study the existence of a correlation between this score and the deficiencies and limitations of activity.
The investigators will then evaluate the potential predictive role of fatty infiltration measured on MRI in the functional abilities of the patients.
This characterization will help to better determine and anticipate the functional capacities of our patients from the beginning of their treatment to improve their functional prognosis.
This initial work could enhance the reflection on the biomechanical modeling of joints and key functions such as standing and the acquisition of walking, in order to pave the way for rehabilitation and compensation methods that are better adapted to patient's needs.
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Pediatric patient from PARART registry (Paediatric and Adult Registry on ARThrogryposis) evaluated in the reference center (RC) for Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita from 2010 until 2021). All patients were evaluated by a geneticist, and had a complete check up in the pediatric PMR unit (physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists) and had imaging analysis by whole body muscular MRI.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients with diagnosis of Amyoplasia
Other: No intervention
Patients with diagnosis of Distal Arthrogryposis
Other: No intervention
Patients with diagnosis of other form of AMC
Other: No intervention
No intervention
Mercuri Scores of upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs evaluated on muscle MRI T1
The degree of fatty muscle infiltration was assessed on muscular MRI and quantified by Mercuri score, each muscle was staged as follows: 1. Normal appearance, 2. Mild involvement (30-60% fatty infiltration). 3. Moderate involvement (\>60% fatty infiltration). 4. Severe involvement (complete infiltration). The degree of muscle fat infiltration was assessed with at least 2 visible slices, and performed by two independent operators. In case of divergent assessments, a consensus was reached after discussion.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Muscular weakness
Muscular weakness assessed by function (flexion, extension etc.) and not by each muscle, using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale (from 0 to 5). The quotation was as follows: 0, no contraction; 1, flicker or trace of contraction; 2, active movement possible only with gravity eliminated; 3, active movement against gravity in the whole range of motion; 4, active movement against gravity and resistance; 5, quasi-normal strength) Evaluated by physiotherapists, occupational therapists and physician during evaluation.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Passive range of motion (PROM)
Evaluated by physiotherapists; the range of motion of each movement in degrees was normalized with respect to the normal maximal movement, expressed as percentages
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Reaching score
Reaching capacity was assessed by ad hoc test. Patients were instructed to successively touch some body targets with upper limbs : mouth, head, forehead, neck, back, stomach, gluteal region, opposite shoulders, ipsilateral shoulders, knee, feet, "Beggar's pose", "position of the oath", and "Zenith Pose". Each gesture was marked "yes" if successful or "no" if not. Responses were transformed into a binary variable with "yes" being worth 1 and "no" being worth 0 to allow for statistical correlations afterwards. The total score was calculated on both sides averaged and ranged from 0 to 14 points
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Ambulatory status
Ambulatory statuses were gathered by the teams during the check-ups as well as the age of acquisition of walking if available and the use or not of technical aids
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
School status
Type of schooling (mainstream education, adapted schooling, presence of a carer)
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Activity limitation
Gathered evaluating living habits and essential acts of daily life such as element of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) : feeding, dressing, potty training, toileting, schooling, transfers, locomotion, and also existence of leisure, hobby, presence of human or technical helps.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Surgery History
Surgical history for each patient
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Human and technical Help
use of a technical aid (manual or electric wheelchair ...), or humain for daily life activities
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
This study is completed, as verified in May 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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