Muscle Biopsy

The scheduling coordinator will work with you to schedule a surgery date. This will be an outpatient procedure which means your child will go home the same day as surgery.

Before the surgery, the Surgery Center will call with your arrival time and eating instructions.

Your child will be given general anesthesia for this surgery, which means that they will be asleep during the surgery.

A half-inch cut (incision) is made in the skin, usually on the thigh (vastus lateralis) where a piece of the muscle (muscle sample) is removed. Local anesthesia will also be placed to numb this area and to relieve any pain.

Then, the skin is closed with stitches beneath the skin, and skin glue or small tapes called Steri-Strips will be placed on the top of the incision.

The muscle sample is taken to the lab, where tests are done to help make a diagnosis. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to prepare and review the results. At that time, your child’s referring doctor will meet with you to discuss the results.

• Skin glue or Steri-strips are used to cover the cut. It is OK to shower 2 days after surgery. No tub bathing or swimming for 1 week after surgery. The skin glue/Steri-strips will fall off on their own in 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
• The cut will be closed with dissolvable stitches. You won’t see any stitches on the outside skin.
• If the incision site bleeds, apply a pressure dressing, and have your child rest until the bleeding stops.
• There may be some bruising of the muscle and a small permanent scar.
• One of the nurses from General Surgery will call you in 5 to 7 business days after surgery to check on your child’s recovery. There is no routine follow-up in clinic other than the phone call, but you are welcome to schedule a follow-up clinic visit if you would like to be seen or if you have any concerns.

We partner with you and your child to prevent and relieve pain as completely as possible. You know your child best. No matter the level of your child’s pain, believe they are hurting and respond right away. After a surgery your child is likely to have some pain and discomfort. In addition to medicine prescribed for pain, we will work with you to create a plan that encourages coping activities to treat pain and provide support. Help your child get better faster, with good pain management.

Your child should drink plenty of liquids and eat light meals the evening of surgery. The next day, your child can eat what they would usually eat if they feel well enough.

• Younger children will limit their own activity and can be as active as they feel comfortable.
• Teens should avoid rough play, contact sports, and bicycle riding for 2 weeks.
• Some school-aged children may need to stay home to rest 1 day after surgery. If they feel well enough, they can return to school after that.

If you have questions or concerns, please call the nurse in the General Surgery Clinic at 206-987-2794, option 4. After hours or on weekends call 206-987-2000 and ask for the on-call General Surgeon to be paged. Call if your child has any of these symptoms:

• Increasing pain at the incision site or surrounding area 2 days after surgery
• Swelling, redness, or bleeding at the incision site
• A fever of 101.5° F (38.6° C) or higher for more than 24 hours
• Cannot pee within 8 to 12 hours after surgery
• Vomiting