Needle muscle biopsy in infants and children.

Percutaneous muscle biopsies were performed in 77 infants and children using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy needle and local anesthesia. Satisfactory specimens for histochemistry and electron microscopy were obtained in all but one case, and the procedure was well tolerated by all patients. No complications were observed. The percutaneous biopsy is a useful technique for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders in children.