Effectiveness of multiple botulinum toxin sessions and the duration of effects in spasticity therapy in children with cerebral palsy

Prevalence of knee contractures is high in children with cerebral palsy in Denmark

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disease occurring in children at early gestation, often resulting in pronounced functional limitations. A Swedish cross-sectional study (Cloodt, et al., 2018) discovered that 22% of children with CP had a knee contracture, which was associated with higher levels of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), higher age, and higher levels of spasticity measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The current study investigated these associations in a Danish population.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study including 1,163 children with CP aged 0-15 years, registered in the Danish National Cerebral Palsy Registry between 2017 and 2019. Prevalence of knee contracture was estimated, and logistic regression analysis was applied with results presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

A total of 511 children with CP had knee contracture resulting in a prevalence of 44%. Age groups 4-6 years (OR: 1.73, CI: 1.19; 2.52), 7-9 years (OR: 1.85, CI: 1.29; 2.66) and 10-12 years (OR: 2.12, CI: 1.39; 3.24) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of knee contractures compared to age group 0-3 years. Knee contractures were significantly more frequent at GMFCS levels IV (OR: 1.9, CI: 1.21; 2.97) and V (OR: 3.62, CI: 2.36; 5.55) compared to level I. Knee contractures were not associated with higher levels of MAS.

CONCLUSIONS

Knee contractures are highly prevalent and significantly associated with high levels of GMFCS and increased age until 12 years, but not with high levels of spasticity in children with CP in Denmark.

[Methods and results of neurosurgical treatment of cerebral palsy]

Treatment of spastic syndrome and muscular dystonia in patients with cerebral palsy is a complex clinical problem. Effectiveness of conservative treatment is not high enough. Modern neurosurgical techniques for spastic syndrome and dystonia are divided into destructive interventions and surgical neuromodulation. Their effectiveness is different and depends on the form of disease, severity of motor disorders and age of patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of various methods of neurosurgical treatment of spasticity and muscular dystonia in patients with cerebral palsy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We To evaluate the effectiveness of various methods of neurosurgical treatment of spasticity and muscular dystonia in patients with cerebral palsy.analyzed literature data in the PubMed database using the keywords «cerebral palsy», «spasticity», «dystonia», «selective dorsal rhizotomy», «selective neurotomy», «intrathecal baclofen therapy», «spinal cord stimulation», «deep brain stimulation».

RESULTS

Effectiveness of neurosurgery was higher for spastic forms of cerebral palsy compared to secondary muscular dystonia. Destructive procedures were the most effective among neurosurgical operations for spastic forms. Effectiveness of chronic intrathecal baclofen therapy decreases in follow-up due to secondary drug resistance. Destructive stereotaxic interventions and deep brain stimulation are used for secondary muscular dystonia. Effectiveness of these procedures is low.

CONCLUSION

Neurosurgical methods can partially reduce severity of motor disorders and expand the possibilities of rehabilitation in patients with cerebral palsy.

Prediction Model for Identifying Computational Phenotypes of Children with Cerebral Palsy Needing Neurotoxin Treatments

Factors associated with neurotoxin treatments in children with cerebral palsy (CP) are poorly studied. We developed and externally validated a prediction model to identify the prognostic phenotype of children with CP who require neurotoxin injections. We conducted a longitudinal, international, multicenter, double-blind descriptive study of 165 children with CP (mean age 16.5 ± 1.2 years, range 12−18 years) with and without neurotoxin treatments. We collected functional and clinical data from 2005 to 2020, entered them into the BTX-PredictMed machine-learning model, and followed the guidelines, “Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis”. In the univariate analysis, neuromuscular scoliosis (p = 0.0014), equines foot (p < 0.001) and type of etiology (prenatal > peri/postnatal causes, p = 0.05) were linked with neurotoxin treatments. In the multivariate analysis, upper limbs (p < 0.001) and trunk muscle tone disorders (p = 0.02), the presence of spasticity (p = 0.01), dystonia (p = 0.004), and hip dysplasia (p = 0.005) were strongly associated with neurotoxin injections; and the average accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity was 75%. These results have helped us identify, with good accuracy, the clinical features of prognostic phenotypes of subjects likely to require neurotoxin injections.

Botulinum Toxin Intervention in Cerebral Palsy-Induced Spasticity Management: Projected and Contradictory Effects on Skeletal Muscles

Spasticity, following the neurological disorder of cerebral palsy (CP), describes a pathological condition, the central feature of which is involuntary and prolonged muscle contraction. The persistent resistance of spastic muscles to stretching is often followed by structural and mechanical changes in musculature. This leads to functional limitations at the respective joint. Focal injection of botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) is effectively used to manage spasticity and improve the quality of life of the patients. By blocking acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction and causing temporary muscle paralysis, BTX-A aims to reduce spasticity and hereby improve joint function. However, recent studies have indicated some contradictory effects such as increased muscle stiffness or a narrower range of active force production. The potential of these toxin- and atrophy-related alterations in worsening the condition of spastic muscles that are already subjected to changes should be further investigated and quantified. By focusing on the effects of BTX-A on muscle biomechanics and overall function in children with CP, this review deals with which of these goals have been achieved and to what extent, and what can await us in the future.

Clinical Phenotype of Cerebral Palsy Depends on the Cause: Is It Really Cerebral Palsy? A Retrospective Study

Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. Still, the precise definition in terms of causes and timing of the brain damage remains controversial. Several studies examine the clinical phenotype of cerebral palsy types. The aim of our study was to determine to what extent the clinical phenotype of cerebral palsy patients depends on the underlying cause. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical phenotype, abnormalities during pregnancy, and cerebral palsy cause of 384 patients, treated at Charité-Medicine University, between 2015 and 2017. The cause of cerebral palsy was identified in 79.9% of cases. Causes prior to the perinatal period were, compared to perinatal brain damage, associated significantly with different comorbidities. The term cerebral palsy does not describe a single disease but is an umbrella term covering many different diseases. Depending on the cause, a varying clinical phenotype can be found, which offers great potential in terms of individual treatment and preventing comorbidities.

Long-term efficacy and safety of repeated botulinum toxin a applications based on function and anesthesia type in children with cerebral palsy

PURPOSE

This study evaluates the motor development of patients undergoing three or more repeated Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) applications in a tertiary pediatric hospital as well as the safety of three different types of anesthesia.

METHODS

Seventy-five children who underwent BoNT-A applications at least three consecutive times at six-month intervals and a total of 320 procedures were examined. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was employed in motor development evaluation. The three anesthesia methods (sedation analgesia, anesthesia with larengeal mask [LMA] and inhalation mask) were compared in terms of sedation, procedure, recovery, and total operation room time.

RESULTS

Following the procedures, significant motor development was observed in 60 (80%) patients. In sedation analgesia group during the first three procedures, the recovery time was seen to be significantly shorter, while there was no difference between the anesthesia methods of any procedures following the fourth. Regardless of the type of anesthesia, the recovery times of those having undergone six or more procedures were longer than those with less than six procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

As repeated BoNT-A application provides motor step progress, it can be applied safely and effectively under anesthesia. Sedation analgesia provides an easier recovery compared to LMA and mask only within the first three applications. However, recovery time increases with four or more repeated applications, specifically increasing as the number of applications increases.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.