Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin Research Articles

Comparison of Wrinkle Patterns Generated by Intradermal and Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin Injections by Clinical Evaluation.

Botulinum toxin has played a remarkable role in management of forehead wrinkles. Most used is intramuscular technique due to its deposition into the muscles, however, with adverse effects like brow ptosis. This study has been designed for the evaluation of efficacy for intradermal v/s intramuscular route of botulinum toxin injections for forehead wrinkles using clinical correlation. This study included a clinical trial of 32 facial halves divided equally into intradermal and intramuscular injection technique groups, receiving total dose of 8 U. Results were assessed by clinical examination upto 2weeks and 4weeks with parameters; objective wrinkle rate, eyebrow height, eyebrow movement, pain, and satisfaction after treatment. Results showed least mean for objective wrinkle rate in intramuscular group, showing statistically significant improvement. Overall improvement in eyebrow height and eyebrow movement were slightly more for intramuscular group. Pain was lesser for intradermal group, whereas satisfaction of patient of patient post treatment is similar for both the groups. Among intradermal and intramuscular botulinum toxin injection technique, the effect and potency were better for intramuscular technique, whereas the patient comfort and compliance were better for intradermal technique.

Cutaneous Allergic Reaction to Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin Injection for Spasticity – A Case Report

Cutaneous Allergic Reaction to Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin Injection for Spasticity – A Case Report

Botulinum toxin use in patients with post-stroke spasticity: a nationwide retrospective study from France.

Current guidelines recommend intramuscular botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection as first-line treatment for spasticity, a frequent and impairing feature of various central nervous system (CNS) lesions such as stroke. Patients with spasticity commonly require BoNT-A injections once every 3 to 4 months. We conducted a nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study, using the French National Hospital Discharge Database (PMSI), to describe BoNT-A use for spasticity in clinical practice in France between 2014 and 2020. The PMSI database covers the whole French population, corresponding to over 66 million persons. We first searched the PMSI database for healthcare facility discharge of patients who received BoNT-A injections between 2014 and 2020, corresponding to the first set. For each BoNT-A-treated patient, we identified the medical condition for which BoNT-A may have been indicated. Another search of the PMSI database focused on patients admitted for acute stroke between 2014 and 2016 and their spasticity-related care pathway (second set). Overall, two subpopulations were analysed: 138,481 patients who received BoNT-A injections between 2014 and 2020, and 318,025 patients who survived a stroke event between 2014 and 2016 and were followed up until 2020. Among the 138,481 BoNT-A-treated patients, 53.5% received only one or two BoNT-A injections. Most of these patients (N = 85,900; 62.0%) received BoNT-A because they had CNS lesions. The number of patients with CNS lesions who received ≥1 BoNT-A injection increased by a mean of 7.5% per year from 2014 to 2019, but decreased by 0.2% between 2019 and 2020, corresponding to the COVID-19 outbreak. In stroke survivors (N = 318,025), 10.7% were coded with post-stroke spasticity, 2.3% received ≥1 BoNT-A injection between 2014 and 2020, and only 0.8% received ≥3 injections within the 12 months following BoNT-A treatment initiation, i.e., once every 3 to 4 months. Our analysis of the exhaustive PMSI database showed a suboptimal implementation of BoNT-A treatment recommendations in France. BoNT-A treatment initiation and re-administration are low, particularly in patients with post-stroke spasticity. Further investigations may help explain this observation, and may target specific actions to improve spasticity-related care pathway.

Inadvertent Globe Penetration and Subretinal injection of Botulinum Toxin in an Oculocutaneous Albinism Patient.

To present a case of localized retinal detachment and mild vitreous hemorrhage in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism following accidental intraocular injection of botulinum toxin A. Botulinum toxin A injection were administered to a 5-year old oculocutaneous albinism patient with esotropia, and resulted in an ocular penetration. Dilated fundus examination indicated a nasal retinal tear causing a mild vitreous hemorrhage and a localized retinal detachment. No treatment was required for the retinal detachment and we observed the patient at regular intervals. On Day 1, the detachment resolved spontaneously without sequelae. On follow up, scarring at the lesion site was detected at one month after the incidence and the patient's vision was stable. In this instance, Observation was sufficient for our patient with complete resolution of retinal detachment and no long-term complication. Botulinum toxin A did not appear toxic to intraocular tissues. However, intramuscular botulinum toxin A injection should be administered carefully. Oculocutaneous albinism did not seem to affect the final outcome in our case.

Canadian Physicians' Use of Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin Injections for Shoulder Spasticity: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.

Spasticity of the upper extremity can result in severe pain, along with many complications that can impair a patient's activities of daily living. Failure to treat patients with spasticity of the upper limb can result in a decrease in the range of motion of joints and contracture development, leading to further restriction in daily activities. We aimed to investigate the practice patterns of Canadian physicians who utilize Botulinum toxin type-A (BoNT-A) injections in the management of shoulder spasticity. 50 Canadian Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians completed a survey with an estimated completion rate of (36.23%). The demographics of the survey participants came from a variety of provinces, clinical settings, and patient populations. The most common muscle injected for shoulder adduction and internal rotation spasticity was the pectoralis major, this was followed by latissimus dorsi, pectoralis minor, subscapularis and teres major. Injection of BoNT-A for problematic post-stroke shoulder spasticity was common, with (81.48%) of participants responding that it was always or often used in their management of post-stroke spasticity (PSS). Dosing of BoNT-A demonstrated variability for the muscle injected as well as the type of toxin used. The goals of the patients, caregivers, and practitioners were used to help guide the management of these patients. As a result, the practice patterns of Canadian physicians who treat shoulder spasticity are varied, due to numerous patient factors. Future studies are needed to analyze optimal treatment patterns, and the development of algorithms to standardize care.

This Month in Pediatric Urology

You have accessJournal of UrologyThis Month in Pediatric Urology1 Sep 2022This Month in Pediatric Urology Julian Wan Julian WanJulian Wan More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002822AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail Awake Intravesical Botulinum Toxin in Pediatric Neurogenic Bladder Many pharmacological agents are derived from natural products. What started out as reports of poison-tipped arrows and blowgun darts led to interest about the paralytic properties of curare. The medical benefits of paralysis led to research into the mechanism of action and commercially available sources with reliable dosages and effects.1 One of the earliest motivations was to try to limit the effects on severe muscle contractions during electroconvulsive therapy. These efforts led to its role in general anesthesia as the paralytic agent tubocurarine.2 While other agents such as pancuronium have become more commonly used,3 the precedent was set. Botulinum toxin (Botox®) is the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. It affects the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, leading to flaccid paralysis. It is a potent lethal naturally occurring toxin and has led to medical interest in much the same fashion as curare was developed into a therapeutic.4 Commercial botulinum toxin has been shown to help with muscle spasticity and to improve storage pressures in neurogenic bladder patients when injected intravesically. These treatments are usually carried out under general anesthesia. Overland et al (page 702) from San Francisco, California discuss the use of botulinum neurotoxin in an awake setting.5 They note that physiatrists have been injecting intramuscular botulinum toxin without general anesthesia or sedation in their cerebral palsy and spasticity patients. They present a small series of patients (sensate and nonsensate) who received bladder botulinum toxin injection without general anesthesia but with support standing by if needed. They had good results, with only 2 patients requiring conversion to general anesthesia or sedation, and mitigating factors such general anxiety and communication issues were present. Because botulinum toxin effects are limited and repeat injections are often necessary, performing the procedure without repeated general anesthesia not only is economical and conserves operating room time, but also helps limit anesthesia exposure. Do New Complications Develop during Puberty after Hypospadias Repair? We are currently in a period of reassessment of hypospadias methods and the reporting of complications and reoperations.6 An experienced pediatric urologist once noted that “everyone’s repair looks good at the time of surgery; tell me what it looks like at 1 year.”7 This concern about late-presenting issues has led many to advocate long-term followup through puberty. While logical, given the many anecdotal reports of late-presenting fistulas, or perhaps more accurately, late-reported fistulas, more is needed to be known about late effects, particularly in those patients who had more complex procedures. Do the growth of the penis during puberty, erections and onset of sexual activity risk greater complications later in life, when many of these patients may be transitioning out of pediatric urology care? Snodgrass and Bush (page 696) from Dallas, Texas report on their experience with patients who presented with late complications.8 All were peripubertal or postpubertal. They found in their retrospective review that 86% recalled complications occurring before puberty. They noted a bimodal presentation, with most being reported before puberty and a few developing later into adulthood, usually related to obstruction and stenosis. Selection and recall bias clearly can affect these findings, because one can only report on patients who are unhappy enough to present, and recall of exact onset can be difficult in some to pin down. Adolescents and young men who might not have relished recurrent operations on their penis as a child may not have the most reliable recall of exact onset of complications. This bimodal presentation supports the finding of Barbagli et al.9 An initial group will have issues attributed to evaluation, surgical technique and approach, and postoperative care. The later group are those older men who have had good early results but who develop late strictures and stenosis; this is believed due to neourethras created out of skin and lack of a natural corporal spongiosum support. Followup through puberty seems warranted, and patients who present later in life with a prior history of hypospadias repair deserve further investigation despite making it through adolescence doing well.

Characteristic Variation of Electromechanical Delay After the Botulinum Toxin Injection in Spastic Biceps Brachii Muscles.

The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of intramuscular botulinum toxin (BT) injections on the electromechanical delay (EMD) in spastic human biceps muscles. The EMD is calculated as the time lag between the muscle activation onset, as recorded from the surface electromyogram (sEMG), and the onset of recorded force. In a cohort of chronic stroke survivors, we compared the computed EMD derived from the spastic (injected) biceps brachii with that from the contralateral muscle. Eight participants were tested before and up to 3 months after a BT injection. At each session, participants followed an isometric trapezoidal force trajectory at 50 and 30%, respectively, of the tested maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Joint force and sEMG signals were recorded as well. The number of zero crossings (ZC) of the sEMG during the steady-state portion of the task was also computed. The EMD post-BT was found to increase by 64 ± 10% (at 50% MVC) and 93 ± 18% (at 30% MVC) when compared to pre-BT values, while the number of sEMG-ZC, the mean MVC values, and the force-EMD slope exhibited striking reductions. These parameters, calculated on the contralateral side, remained relatively constant across sessions, with the EMD significantly lower and the MVC values much higher. We discuss potential contributing factors to an increase in EMD values on the affected side, both pre- and post-BT. The observed co-variation across sessions of the increased EMD values with the decreased ZC estimates, a surrogate of motor outflow, and, potentially, more compliant muscle fascicles suggests that the altered motor unit (MU) behavior contributes, at least in part, to the delayed force production.

Emerging Concepts and Evidence in Telematics Novel Approaches or Treatments for Spasticity Management After Botulinum Injection.

There is a strong recommendation for the use of intramuscular botulinum toxin in patients with persistent or progressive spasticity affecting one or more joints and who have an identifiable therapeutic target. After a botulinum toxin injection, a stretching intervention improves the results of the treatment, and it should be performed by patients and/or caregivers after being trained by a therapist. Adherence to this recommendation remains low once the therapist stops following the patient. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of telemedicine with different approaches to treat patients. There has been an increased use of motivational applications, with virtual reality software and real-life videos, which provide a gaming experience that increases adherence. There are programs with synchronous telehealth exercises guided by physical therapists or software with sensor-based technology that shows the range of motion (ROM) and strength of the muscles of a particular joint. These new approaches to patient follow-up appear to increase adherence to exercise because they need to be “watched and controlled” is achieved.

Comparative Effectiveness of Injection Therapies for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain in Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) hampers post-stroke functional recovery and is not well managed with conservative treatments. This systematic review aimed to examine the various injection therapies for HSP and investigate their effectiveness at different time points. The protocol of this meta-analysis was registered on INPLASY with a registration number of INPLASY202180010. PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched from their inception to 4 August 2021 for the clinical studies investigating comparative effectiveness of different injection regimens for treating hemiplegic shoulder pain in patients with stroke. The primary outcome was the weighted mean difference (WMD) on the visual analog scale (VAS) of pain reduction in the fourth-week and between the fourth and twenty-fourth weeks. Ranking probabilities of the WMD for each treatment were obtained using simulations. Seventeen studies with 595 participants were included. The network meta-analysis showed that at the fourth-week, intra-muscular botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections and suprascapular nerve blocks (SSNB) were superior to a placebo, with WMDs of 1.55 (95% CI, 0.09 to 3.01) and 1.44 (95% CI, 0.07 to 2.80), respectively. SSNB possessed the highest probability (53.3%) and appeared to be the best treatment in the fourth-week, followed by intra-muscular BoNT injections (42.6%). Intramuscular BoNT injections were better than the placebo, with a WMD of 1.57 (95% CI, 0.30 to 2.84) between the 4th and 24th weeks. Intramuscular BoNT injections had the highest probability (79.8%) as the best treatment between the 4th and 24th weeks. SSNB was likely to rank first in relieving HSP at the fourth post-treatment week, whereas intra-muscular BoNT injections had the highest probability to achieve the best treatment effectiveness in the post-injection period between the fourth and twenty-fourth weeks. However, as some of the included studies used a non-randomized controlled design, more randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to validate and better understand the short- and long-term efficacy of different injection therapies for management of HSP.

Novel insights into the pathogenesis of DYT1 dystonia from induced patient-derived neurons.

Novel insights into the pathogenesis of DYT1 dystonia from induced patient-derived neurons.

In-house tooth-supported guide for the injection of botulinum toxin into the lateral pterygoid muscle using Blue Sky Plan software: A technical note

Hyperactivity of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) is one of the theories postulated to explain anterior disc displacement, which can result in difficulty in jaw opening, jaw protrusion, or jaw-deviation dystonias and interferes with mastication, speech, and swallowing. Injection of botulinum toxin of the LPM is considered a conservative therapeutic modality for this condition.The LPM is a deep facial structure and several techniques have been described that use magnetic resonance imaging, arthroscopic, or electromyographic guidance to perform intramuscular botulinum toxin injection safely this to prevent incorrect injection or complications, such arterial bleeding. This study provided a described step-by-step description of the computer-aided design and manufacturing procedure for the fabrication of an in-house guide to simplify the method of botulinum toxin injection in the LPM and ensure accuracy and safety in medical office.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN EFFICACIES OF USG GUIDED BOTULINUM TOXIN INJECTION INTO THE SUBSCAPULARIS MUSCLE AND THE CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT IN HEMIPLEGIC SHOULDER PAIN

Introduction: Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) is a common complication after stroke. HSP inhibits recovery and rehabilitation and impairs the quality of life of stroke survivors. Although the etiology of HSP is not well known, it has been suggested that multiple factors contribute to HSP. Our approach is to compare the efcacy of USG guided Botulinum toxin injection into the subscapularis muscle and conservative treatment in case of intractable hemiplegic shoulder pain. Material and methods: In this Parallel Group Open Level Randomized Controlled Trial, conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, IPGME&R, SSKM Hospital, Kolkata between September, 2017 to September, 2018 (Twelve months) on 34 (17 in each group) patients with intractable (persistent pain for more than 3 months) hemiplegic shoulder pain. In group 1, Botulinum toxin injection was given in subscapularis muscle by USG guided lateral approach. In group 2, managed conservatively with Physical therapy (stretching, passive range of motion exercise), Modality (hot pack, infrared, IFT), pain medications (NSAIDS, oral opioids) and Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of shoulder. Parameters used: 1. Pain intensity - measured by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) [Score 0- 10], 2. Spasticity measured by - Modied Ashworth Scale (MAS) [score 0-4], 3. Shoulder range of motion - External rotation (ER) [score 0- 90] assessed. The patients attending the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation OPD at IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata were included and studied if they fullled the inclusion and nd exclusion criteria after getting Institutional Ethics Committee clearance and informed written consent. After initial visit, followed up on 2 week, th th 4 week and 12 week. Comparison done considering all the parameters considering basal and follow up data to compare the efcacy of intramuscular botulinum toxin injection and those with in group 2, managed conservatively. Results: All the data collected during this study period were analyzed by using statistical software Statistica vertsion 6 [Tulsa, Oklahoma: StatSoft Inc., 2001] and GraphPad Prism version 4 [San Diego, California: GraphPad Software Inc., 2005]. There was statistically signicant difference (group 1 is statistically superior than group 2) between two groups at 2nd, 4th and 12th week in respect to NRS, MAS of subscapularis and ER of shoulder joint (p value<0.05). Conclusion: There was signicant short-term improvement of shoulder pain, spasticity of shoulder internal rotator(subscapularis) and range of motion in the form of external rotation after Botulinum toxin injection compared to conservative treatment. But in terms of intermediate-term and long-term follow-up although both groups showed signicant improvement but Botulinum toxin injection group was statistically superior than conservative treatment.

Ultrasound dimensional changes of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle induced by orthognathic surgery and botulinum toxin A injection in Class II malocclusion.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the ultrasonographic dimensional changes of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle (ABDM), occurring after intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection during orthognathic surgery, in a series of five Class II malocclusion patients. All the patients received 20 units of BTX-A, into both ABDM, intraoperatively. The length, width and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ABDM were ultrasonographically measured at three different time points: T0 (preoperatively), T1 (postoperatively at 2weeks after the surgical intervention), and T2 (postoperatively at 6-9months). A statistically significant higher length of the ABDM was noted postoperatively, at T1 and T2 compared to T0. The patients showed an increased length by 12.2% at 2weeks postoperatively and continued to increase, reaching 24.6% at 6months. A decreased width of ABDM by 6.5% at T1 compared with T0 was also found. Postoperative ultrasound (US) follow-up measurements in patients with Class II malocclusion, orthognathic surgery and intraoperative BTX-A injection in the ABDM, showed dimensional changes of the muscle, with elongation and thinning. The muscular modifications were more pronounced at 6months postoperatively, indicating consistency and potential benefit of using BTX-A in reducing the risk of surgical relapse. Further data on longer-term follow-up and larger number of cases are necessary.

Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin A Injection in Managing Mobility-Related Outcomes in Adult Patients With Cerebral Palsy: Systematic Review.

Intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is used in the management of focal spasticity in cerebral palsy (CP). The aim was to conduct a systematic review to assess current literature on the use of BTX-A in the management of mobility-related outcomes among adult persons with spastic CP. All studies reporting on the use of BTX-A in the management of spastic CP among adult persons were identified by searching the following electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. Six studies were included in the review. Most studies were conducted in mixed patient groups comprising patients with movement disorders, traumatic brain injury, CP, and other disorders requiring therapy for spasticity. BTX-A was shown to be effective in improving spasticity-related outcomes among persons with CP, but mixed results were shown for functional outcomes. More studies are required on exclusive CP cohorts using recommended and currently used scales, incorporating quality of life and patient satisfaction scales. Results from long-term follow-up studies will be valuable for better evaluation of the effectiveness of BTX-A in the management of spasticity-related outcomes among adult persons with CP.

Precise quantification of the time course of voluntary activation capacity following Botulinum toxin injections in the biceps brachii muscles of chronic stroke survivors

BackgroundSpasticity is a key motor impairment that affects many hemispheric stroke survivors. Intramuscular botulinum toxin (BT) injections are used widely to clinically manage spasticity-related symptoms in stroke survivors by chemically denervating muscle fibers from their associated motor neurons. In this study, we sought to understand how BT affects muscle activation, motor unit composition and voluntary force generating capacity over a time period of 3 months. Our purpose was to characterize the time course of functional changes in voluntary muscle activity in stroke survivors who are undergoing BT therapy as part of their physician-prescribed clinical plan.MethodOur assessment of the effects of BT was based on the quantification of surface electromyogram (sEMG) recordings in the biceps brachii (BB), an upper arm muscle and of voluntary contraction force. We report here on voluntary force and sEMG responses during isometric elbow contractions across consecutive recording sessions, spread over 12 weeks in three segments, starting with a preliminary session performed just prior to the BT injection. At predetermined time points, we conducted additional clinical assessments and we also recorded from the contralateral limbs of our stroke cohort. Eight subjects were studied for approximately 86 experimental recording sessions on both stroke-affected and contralateral sides.ResultsWe recorded an initial reduction in force and sEMG in all subjects, followed by a trajectory with a progressive return to baseline over a maximum of 12 weeks, although the minimum sEMG and minimum force were not always recorded at the same time point. Three participants were able to complete only one to two segments. Slope values of the sEMG-force relations were also found to vary across the different time segments. While sEMG-force slopes provide assessments of force generation capacity of the BT injected muscle, amplitude histograms from novel sEMG recordings during the voluntary tasks provide additional insights about differential actions of BT on the overall motor unit (MU) population over time.ConclusionsThe results of our study indicate that there are potential short term as well as long term decrements in muscle control and activation properties after BT administration on the affected side of chronic stroke survivors. Muscle activation levels as recorded using sEMG, did not routinely return to baseline even at three months’ post injection. The concurrent clinical measures also did not follow the same time course, nor did they provide the same resolution as our experimental measures. It follows that even 12 weeks after intramuscular BT injections muscle recovery may not be complete, and may thereby contribute to pre-existing paresis.

Image-guided botulinum toxin injection in the lateral abdominal wall prior to abdominal wall reconstruction surgery: review of techniques and results.

Ventral hernias represent the most common complication after abdominal surgery. Loss of domain and/or large ventral hernias in patients are especially challenging for surgeons to manage, but preoperative image-guided botulinum toxin injection has emerged as an effective adjunct to abdominal wall surgery. Loss of domain is caused by chronic muscle retraction of the lateral abdominal wall and leads to an irreducible protrusion of abdominal viscera into the hernia sac. Botulinum toxin can be used in the oblique muscles as a chemical component relaxation technique to aid abdominal wall reconstruction. Intramuscular botulinum toxin injection causes functional denervation by blocking neurotransmitter acetylcholine release resulting in flaccid paralysis and elongation of lateral abdominal wall muscles, increasing the rate of fascial closure during abdominal wall reconstruction, and decreasing recurrence rates. In total, 200-300units of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) or 500units of abobotulinumtoxinA (Dypsort®) in a 2:1 dilution with normal saline is most commonly used. Botulinum toxin can be injected with ultrasonographic, EMG, or CT guidance. Injection should be performed at least 2weeks prior to abdominal wall reconstruction, for maximal effect during surgery. At minimum, botulinum toxin should be injected into the external and internal oblique muscles at three separate sites bilaterally for a total of six injections. Although botulinum toxin use for abdominal wall reconstruction is currently not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration, it is safe with only minor complications reported in literature.

Experienced consequences of spasticity and effects of botulinum toxin injections: a qualitative study amongst patients with disabling spasticity after stroke

Purpose Chronic spasticity poses a major burden on patients after stroke. Intramuscular botulinum toxin injections constitute an important part of the treatment for patients suffering from troublesome focal spasticity. This study explores the experienced consequences of chronic spasticity amongst patients after stroke regarding physical impairments and activities, the experienced effects of botulinum toxin treatment on these domains, and whether current spasticity management addresses patients’ needs. Materials and methods Fourteen participants with chronic spasticity after stroke who were treated with cyclical botulinum toxin injections in the upper and/or lower extremity muscles were interviewed. Inductive thematic analysis generated representative themes. Results Analyses of the interviews revealed three themes: (1) spasticity-related impairments and activity limitations; (2) fluctuations in spasticity related to botulinum toxin; (3) need for professional support and feedback. Besides motor impairments, participants experienced activity limitations in many domains of everyday life, with considerable day-to-day fluctuations. Moreover, treatment with botulinum toxin led to cyclical fluctuations in spasticity-related symptoms, which differed across participants. The participants called for shared responsibility for treatment, particularly regarding optimising the timing of injections. Conclusion Incorporating patient-relevant outcomes into the current assessment of spasticity and monitoring these outcomes may improve spasticity management, particularly regarding the timing of botulinum toxin injections. Implications for rehabilitation Because chronic spasticity after stroke impacts on almost all domains of everyday life, professionals should identify and target the most relevant problems in each individual patient. Monitoring patient-reported outcomes may help patients and professionals to get insight in the fluctuations of spasticity-related symptoms and may help to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin injections from the patient's perspective. Patient education and providing insight in the fluctuations of spasticity-related symptoms may support self-management and shared decision-making in spasticity management.

Movement Disorders: What Are You Doing? What Can We Do?

Movement Disorders: What Are You Doing? What Can We Do? Abstract. Disturbances of movement are common and varied. Frequent causes are systemic diseases such as Parkinson's syndromes and the essential tremor. Treatment options in practice and hospital include conservative, predominantly drug strategies such as oral administration of dopamine precursors or agonists, and pharmacological or non-pharmacological escalation strategies such as intramuscular botulinum toxin A injections, the subcutaneous or enteral drug pumps for apomorphine or levodopa and carbidopa, the effective deep brain stimulation and the novel focused ultrasound therapy, which are bound to highly specialized centers and should be considered as treatment option quite earlier and more frequently.

Comparison of the efficacy of intramuscular botulinum toxin type-A injection into the pectoralis major and the teres major muscles and suprascapular nerve block for hemiplegic shoulder pain: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

This study aims to investigate the effect of botulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) injection into pectoralis major and teres major muscles and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) on pain, range of motion (ROM), and upper extremity function for (hemiplegic shoulder pain) HSP, and to compare the effectiveness of these two methods. Sixty patients with HSP were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The Group 1 (n= 30) received BoNT-A injection into the pectoralis major and teres major, and the Group 2 (n= 30) received SSSB. Patients were evaluated just before the start of the study, and 2 and 6weeks after the start of the study with visual analog scale (VAS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MASH), the passive ROM, and the Fugl-Meyer Scale (FMS) arm section. In Group 1, statistically significant improvement was found in all evaluation parameters on 2th and 6th week. Group 2 showed significant improvement in all parameters on week 2 (p< 0.05), and significant improvement was observed in MASH and pain in abduction in the 6th week (p< 0.05). When the groups were compared with each other, a statistically significant difference was observed in MASH, ROM, and FMS parameters on week 2 in favor of Group 1; in all evaluation parameters, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of Group 1 on week 6 (p< 0.05). We concluded that BoNT-A injection into the pectoralis major and teres major muscles for HSP was equal in the short term and more effective in the middle term compared with SSNB treatment in improving pain, ROM, and function.

Botulinum Toxin A Injection in Treatment of Upper Limb Spasticity in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background:Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of childhood disability globally. Botulinum toxin A injections are widely used to manage limb spasticity in children with CP. Intramuscular botulinum toxin A has been used in the upper limbs of children with CP to manage preoperative and postoperative pain, facilitate nursing, and achieve functional and/or cosmetic improvement of hand position. These goals are achieved primarily through reduction of spasticity. The aim of this review was to assess the evidence for the effect of botulinum toxin A injections used to manage upper limb spasticity in children with spastic CP. Specifically, we examined the role of botulinum toxin A as an adjunctive treatment to other physical therapy modalities. Additionally, we analyzed the associated complications.Methods:The literature extraction process involved 4 phases: identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. We used a combination of Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. The choice of the search terms was based on the Medical Subject Headings. We extracted the relevant studies using a combination of words or terms related to (1) patient population, (2) pathology, (3) clinical intervention, and (4) anatomical distribution of pathology. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials conducted on children and/or adolescents with CP targeting the upper extremities in which botulinum toxin A was used as an adjunctive treatment to a primary intervention.Results:The literature extraction process yielded 15 randomized controlled trials for inclusion in this review. The total number of participants enrolled in the included studies was 499, with 255 in the intervention group (51%) and 244 controls (49%). All participants in the eligible studies had unilateral spastic CP except for those in 4 studies (27%) with 198 participants (40%) that included a heterogeneous sample of unilateral and bilateral spastic CP. The mean age of participants in the intervention group ranged from 2.6 to 10.7 years among the individual studies. The mean age of participants in the control group ranged from 3.1 to 10.55 years among the individual studies. This review indicated that botulinum toxin A had a positive effect on the degree of spasticity and cosmetic appearance of the injected upper limb. The results with respect to functional gains and quality of life were either conflicting or not significant.Conclusions:Randomized controlled trials of botulinum toxin A injection in the treatment of upper limb spasticity in children with CP used variable outcome measures and yielded mixed results. Overall, there is some evidence to support the use of botulinum toxin A as an adjuvant treatment to other physical therapy regimens or placebo to reduce spasticity in the short term. There is insufficient evidence to support its use as an adjunctive treatment to improve upper limb function or quality of life. The complications were acceptable and did not outweigh the clinical gains incurred.Level of Evidence:Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.