Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic

The MDA Clinic at Children's Hospital New Orleans

What is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is a broad term used to describe genetic disorders of the muscles that occur when the body experiences an alteration of a protein called dystrophin. The protein dystrophin is used to keep muscles intact, and without it, the muscles break down and are replaced with fatty deposits which leads to progressive muscle weakness. The most common forms of muscular dystrophy are Duchenne musculardystrophy and a less severe form of muscular dystrophy known as Becker muscular dystrophy.

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a Designated Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Care Center

The MDA Care Centers partner with the top health care institutions to provide care and support for patients with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. Children’s Hospital New Orleans is proud to collaborate with the MDA to provide highly specialized care to ensure the best possible outcomes for these patients and their families. Children with other neuromuscular conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot Marie Tooth disease and myasthenia gravis are also seen in the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinic.

How to refer

The MDA Clinic is held at the main campus at Children’s Hospital monthly.

A referral from a primary care provider or another specialist is required for the MDA Clinic.

Primary care providers and referring providers may send a referral including the patient demographic information, recent clinic notes, and any recent diagnostic testing to the Scheduling Department at the numbers below.

Scheduling
Phone: 504.896.2888
Fax: 504.896.2889