NBIA disorders are often accompanied by restricted movement, alternating muscle tension and involuntary cramps (dystonia), which cause the muscles to become increasingly shortened. Under certain conditions, myofasciotomy can provide some relief. Dr. Peter Bernius, head physician at the Center for Paediatric and Neuro-Orthopaedics at the Schön Klinik München Harlaching, has kindly agreed to present this treatment option to us in an online lecture. All NBIA families were invited, as well as their doctors and therapists. Dr. Peter Bernius presented his work to us in a very clear lecture, which we were allowed to record in order to make it available to other interested parties here. Thank you very much for this!

Myofasciotomy - a minimally invasive treatment for shortened muscles

Dr. Bernius specialized in the treatment of children with and without disabilities very early on in his orthopaedic training at the Oskar-Helene-Heim, University Hospital Berlin and further developed this knowledge as a senior physician at the University Hospital in Freiburg. Since 2001, he has headed the Center for Pediatric and Neuro-Orthopaedics at the Schön Klinik München Harlaching. In recent years, he has focused on gentle surgical methods and functional treatment of children with disabilities. Together with his team of doctors, he performs "myofasciotomies" on muscles throughout the body to give stiff children the ability to move again. Similar operations are also known as "Ulzibat surgery" or "SPLM". Knowing that any break in movement reduces mobility and strength, he uses minimally invasive surgical methods to avoid long periods of immobilization in casts. For him, active movement takes precedence over passive stabilization. This also applies to further treatment. His efforts are aimed at recognizing developing problems as early as possible and then treating them prophylactically rather than later with reconstructive or palliative measures.
Dr. Bernius covers the entire field of paediatric orthopaedics in the knowledge that form is determined by function, especially during growth. The best possible, age-appropriate function is therefore the goal.

You can find an overview of all online lectures here: Online lectures