Motor control testing of upper limb function after botulinum toxin injection: a case study

Effects of botulinum toxin type A on upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Objective: To evaluate whether botulinum toxin type A injections improve upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy.

Methods: An extensive search was carried out in PUBMED, CINAHL, PICARTA, EMBASE, PEDRO and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Controlled and uncontrolled studies were included and evaluated on the basis of a best evidence synthesis.

Results: Twelve out of 645 identified studies were included: three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) ( n = 64) of high methodological quality, and nine uncontrolled studies ( n = 107) of sufficient methodological quality. In one of the three RCTs a short-term, significant decrease of spasticity was found in favour of the botulinum toxin type A group, which was supported by five of the seven uncontrolled studies that also measured spasticity. In one RCT significant changes in range of motion were reported for wrist and thumb extension. This finding was supported by two out of seven uncontrolled studies. One RCT reported a significant improvement in activities after one month, according to the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test and the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory, whereas five out of the nine uncontrolled studies reported an improvement in functional activities.

Conclusion: Insufficient evidence is found for the effects of botulinum toxin type A injections to reduce spasticity or to increase range of motion and upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy. Besides differences in treatment goals, the lack of evidence is mainly due to the use of invalid assessment instruments and insufficient statistical power to demonstrate treatment effects.

Posturografia dinâmica computadorizada na avaliação do equilíbrio corporal de indivíduos com disfunção vestibular

Objetivo Avaliar o equilíbrio corporal de pacientes portadores de disfunção vestibular, por meio da posturografia dinâmica computadorizada. Métodos Estudo com 116 indivíduos com disfunção vestibular periférica, com idades entre 22 anos e 6 meses e 94 anos e 1 mês. Foram submetidos à avaliação otoneurológica completa, avaliação otorrinolaringológica, além da posturografia dinâmica computadorizada com os testes de organização sensorial, controle motor e de adaptação. Resultados O teste de organização sensorial foi o mais sensível para detectar alterações do equilíbrio e a condição 4, em que os pacientes permanecem na posição ortostática, com os pés afastados e sobre os sensores da superfície de referência, com os olhos abertos; condição 5, na qual os pacientes continuam na posição com os olhos fechados e a condição 6, em que os pacientes mantém os olhos abertos e o campo visual sofre deslocamentos anteroposteriores. Nas três condições, a superfície de referência oscila com movimentos similares à gangorra e foram as que os participantes apresentaram maiores dificuldades. Houve maior ocorrência de quedas se compararmos ao risco de quedas, avaliado quando o paciente tem pontuação entre 60 e 69 no índice de equilíbrio, principalmente a partir da condição 4 do teste de organização sensorial e entre os idosos. As mulheres tiveram maior número de quedas durante os testes. Conclusão A posturografia dinâmica computadorizada detectou as alterações relacionadas ao equilíbrio corporal, auxiliando no diagnóstico das disfunções e complementando a avaliação vestibular.

Impairment and function: the difficulty with definition and measurement of outcome in clinical practice

Background:

The term function is used in rehabilitation both as an expression of patient status (e.g. low functional capacity) and also as a term to capture the extent of change following rehabilitation interventions (e.g. improved walking efficiency); however there is a lack of consensus as to the possible terms used to encompass the term function. There is uncertainty about the primary focus of interventions within rehabilitation in the sense that some clinicians work on reducing impairment whereas others believe they are working at a functional level. This suggests that the terms are used interchangeably in clinical practice and that an assumed link exists between altering the impairment and improving function.

Aim:

This analysis paper investigates the distinctiveness and commonality between function and impairment in rehabilitation within a conceptual framework and encourages clinicians to discuss and debate the potential for a universally recognised definition of function.

Conclusion:

Function and impairment are not always considered as being distinct, resulting in attributing observed changes in impairment to a change in functional status without the evidence to support the process.

Kinematic improvement following Botulinum Toxin-A injection in upper-limb spasticity due to stroke

Background Focal spasticity is a significant motor disorder following stroke, and Botulinum Toxin Type-A (BoNT-A) is a useful treatment for this. The authors evaluated kinematic modifications induced by spasticity, and whether or not there is any improvement following injection of BoNT-A. Methods Eight patients with stroke with upper-limb spasticity, showing a flexor pattern, were evaluated using kinematics before and after focal treatment with BoNT-A. A group of sex- and age-matched normal volunteers acted as a control group. Results Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that patients with stroke performed more slowly than the control group. Following treatment with BoNT-A, there was a significant improvement in kinematics in patients with stroke, while in the control group, performance remained unchanged. Conclusions Focal treatment of spasticity with BoNT-A leads to an adaptive change in the upper limb of patients with spastic stroke.

Botulinum toxin A as an adjunct to treatment in the management of the upper limb in children with spastic cerebral palsy (UPDATE)

BACKGROUND

Cerebral palsy (CP) is "a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture causing activity limitation(s) that are attributed to non-progressive disturbance that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain" (Rosenbaum 2007, p.9). The spastic motor type is the most common form of CP. Therapeutic management may include splinting/casting, passive stretching, facilitation of posture/movement, spasticity-reducing medication and surgery. Botulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) is now used as an adjunct to these techniques in an attempt to reduce spasticity, improve range of movement and function.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of injections of BoNT-A or BoNT-A and occupational therapy in the treatment of the upper limb in children with CP.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register/CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2008), MEDLINE (1966 to August Week 1 2008), EMBASE (1980 to 2008 Week 28) and CINAHL (1982 to August Week 1 2008).

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BoNT-A injection or BoNT-A injection and occupational therapy in the upper limb(s) with other types of treatment (including no treatment or placebo) in children with CP.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors using standardised forms extracted the data independently. Each trial was assessed for internal validity and rated for quality using the PEDro scale. Data were extracted and entered into RevMan 5.0.15.

MAIN RESULTS

Ten trials met the inclusion criteria. PEDro quality ratings ranged from 6/10 to 10/10. Concentration of BoNT-A ranged from 50U/1.0ml to 200U/1.0ml saline with doses of 0.5U to 16U/kg body weight and total doses of 220 to 410 Units (Botox(R)).A combination of BoNT-A and occupational therapy is more effective than occupational therapy alone in reducing impairment, improving activity level outcomes and goal achievement, but not for improving quality of life or perceived self-competence. When compared with placebo or no treatment, there is moderate evidence that BoNT-A alone is not effective.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review found high level evidence supporting the use of BoNT-A as an adjunct to managing the upper limb in children with spastic CP. BoNT-A should not be used in isolation but should be accompanied by planned occupational therapy.Further research is essential to identify children most likely to respond to BoNT-A injections, monitor longitudinal outcomes, determine timing and effect of repeated injections and the most effective dosage, dilution and volume schedules. The most effective adjunct therapies including frequency and intensity of delivery also requires investigation.

Upper-limb botulinum toxin A injection and occupational therapy in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy identified from a population register: a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of botulinum toxin A and occupational therapy compared with occupational therapy alone on body structure, activities participation, and self-perception in a sample of children (aged 3-16 years) with hemiplegic cerebral palsy recruited from a statewide register.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Participants of this single-blind, randomized, controlled trial identified from a population-based cerebral palsy register received either an individually prescribed and localized injection of botulinum toxin A with 4 sessions of occupational therapy over 4 weeks (intervention) or occupational therapy alone (control). Outcomes were assessed from 2 domains of the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: body structure (Modified Ashworth Scale and Tardieu Scale) and activities participation (Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, Goal Attainment Scale, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory). Self-perception was also measured.

RESULTS

All of the participants (intervention: n = 21; control: n = 22) provided data at baseline and 3 and 6 months. Mean age was 8.6 years; 23 were boys and 20 were girls. At 3 months, children allocated to receive the intervention performed significantly better in terms of body structure and activities participation. They reported improvements in self-perception for the global self-worth domain. At 6 months, the differences between the intervention and control groups persisted for the measures of body structure but not for activities participation or self-perception.

CONCLUSION

Botulinum toxin A injection combined with a low-intensity occupational therapy program achieves significant improvements in body structure, activity participation, and self-perception.

Botulinum toxin type A injection for management of upper limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy: a literature review

The aim of this article was to present a review of the research literature on the outcome of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection for management of upper limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We searched the electronic databases of MEDLINE, CINAHL and PUBMED for all published studies with full-length English text available. For each study, the quality of the methods and the strength of evidence were assessed by 2 independent reviewers based on the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) guidelines. Four studies of level I, 8 studies of level IV and 4 studies of level V were identified. Due to the limited number of studies with high quality evidence and inconsistent results among studies, we were unable to support or refute the usefulness of BTX-A injection for management of upper limb spasticity in children with CP. Moreover, we identified several variables that may affect the outcome of injection, such as timing of age, dosage, dilution volumes, localization techniques of target muscles and participant characteristics. In summary, we have presented a review the literature and a discussion of the considerable uncertainty and variation associated with the clinical use of BTX-A injection for management of upper limb spasticity in children with CP.

Clinical assessment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy: a critical review of available instruments

This study reviews the instruments used for the clinical assessment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy, and evaluates their compliance with the concept of spasticity, defined as a velocity-dependent increase in muscle tone to passive stretch. Searches were performed in Medline, Embase, and Cinahl, including the keywords 'spasticity', 'child', and 'cerebral palsy', to identify articles in which a clinical method to measure spasticity was reported. Thirteen clinical spasticity assessment instruments were identified and evaluated using predetermined criteria. This review consists of reports on the standardization applied for assessment at different velocities, testing posture, and quantification of spasticity. Results show that most instruments do not comply with the concept of spasticity; standardization of assessment method is often lacking, and scoring systems of most instruments are ambiguous. Only the Tardieu Scale complies with the concept of spasticity, but this instrument has a comprehensive and time-consuming clinical scoring system.

Botulinum toxin A as an adjunct to treatment in the management of the upper limb in children with spastic cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a central nervous system deficit resulting from a non-progressive lesion in the developing brain. Although the brain lesions are static, the movement disorders that arise are not unchanging and are characterised by atypical muscle tone, posture and movement (Rang 1990). The spastic motor type is the most common form of CP and its conventional therapeutic management may include splinting/casting, passive stretching, facilitation of posture and movement, spasticity-reducing medication and surgery. More recently, health care professionals have begun to use botulinum toxin A (BtA) as an adjunct to interventions in an attempt to reduce muscle tone and spasticity to improve function

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of intramuscular BtA injections as an adjunct to managing the upper limb in children with spastic CP.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2003), MEDLINE (1966 to March Week 3 2004), EMBASE (1980 to 2003 Week 16) and CINAHL (1982 to Week 3 March 2004).

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intramuscular BtA injections into any muscle group of the upper limb with placebo, no treatment or other interventions.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors using standardised forms extracted the data independently. Each trial was assessed for internal validity with differences resolved by discussion. Data was extracted and entered into RevMan 4.2.3.

MAIN RESULTS

Two trials met the inclusion criteria, each having short-term follow up, a small number of subjects and using a single set of injections. The study by Corry 1997 compared BtA with an injection of normal saline and found promising results in elbow extension, elbow and wrist muscle tone. At three months, encouraging results for wrist muscle tone and grasp and release were noted. The trial reported median change, range of changes and the difference in these measures between groups. The study by Fehlings 2000 compared BtA with no intervention. When data were analysed no treatment effect was found for quality of upper limb function, passive range of motion, muscle tone, grip strength or self-care ability.

REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review has not found sufficient evidence to support or refute the use of intramuscular injections of BtA as an adjunct to managing the upper limb in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Only one of the two identified RCTs reported some promising results in support of reduced muscle tone following BtA injections. Further research incorporating larger sample sizes, rigorous methodology, measurement of upper limb function and functional outcomes is essential.

Physiological effects of botulinum toxin in spasticity

There is considerable evidence that injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) into muscles with spastic overactivity reduces resistance to passive movement in joints supplied by the injected muscles. The demonstration of improvement in active performance of the paretic limbs has been only anecdotal to date, and represents the most difficult challenge in research on BTX therapy in spastic paralysis. Data are reviewed that indicate several neurophysiological actions of BTX, other than the blocking of acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular ending: effects on the central nervous system, including retrograde axonal transport, reduced motoneuronal excitability, action on central synapses such as decreased Renshaw inhibition and increased presynaptic inhibition; action on gamma motoneuronal endings; action on most active terminals; spread of BTX to neighboring muscles; spread of BTX effects to remote muscles. Several of these neurophysiological actions are likely to contribute to improvement in active movements, as they may antagonize the primary mechanisms of functional impairment in patients with spastic paralysis: weakness, spastic cocontraction, spastic dystonia, and muscle shortening. We review the evidence for reduction of spastic cocontraction in both the injected muscle and its antagonist, and for improvement of antagonist weakness after BTX injection. The capacity of intramuscular BTX to reduce spastic dystonia and lengthen shortened muscles is also discussed based on prior literature. When injected into the more overactive of a pair of spastic antagonists around a joint, BTX should affect all the main mechanisms impairing active function around the joint.

Effect of botulinum toxin type A on cerebral palsy with upper limb spasticity

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of botulinum toxin type A injections in reducing upper limb muscular spasticity and in improving motor function in children with cerebral palsy.

DESIGN

Fifteen children with spastic cerebral palsy who were undergoing regular physical and occupational therapy were enrolled. Botulinum toxin type A injections in clinically indicated target muscle groups were administered after the children had received 3 mo of therapy. A follow-up study was carried out at 6 wk and 12 wk, respectively, after the botulinum toxin type A injections. The main outcome measurements included the Modified Ashworth Scale, the upper limb Physician's Rating Scale, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, and the self-care domain of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory.

RESULTS

The reduction of spasticity in the treated muscle groups differed significantly between the control period and both study periods. Improvements on the Physician's Rating Scale score during the study period also differed significantly as compared with improvements during the control period. There was a significant difference in the improvement of fine motor skills, as measured with Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, between the control period and both study periods. Improvements in self-care capability differed significantly between the control period and 12 wk after botulinum toxin type A treatment, but not between the control period and at 6 wk after treatment. Muscle strength of grasp and pinch did not differ significantly between the control and the study period. Distribution of body parts involvement, disease severity, and function in daily living activities had no significant correlation with functional improvement after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the premise that botulinum toxin type A injections are effective in reducing upper limb spasticity and in improving movement pattern and fine motor function of patients with spastic cerebral palsy. A reduction in caregivers' burden and improved quality of life were demonstrated through the study period.

Classification and definition of disorders causing hypertonia in childhood

OBJECTIVE

This report describes the consensus outcome of an interdisciplinary workshop that was held at the National Institutes of Health in April 2001. The purpose of the workshop and this article are to define the terms "spasticity," "dystonia," and "rigidity" as they are used to describe clinical features of hypertonia in children. The definitions presented here are designed to allow differentiation of clinical features even when more than 1 is present simultaneously.

METHODS

A consensus agreement was obtained on the best current definitions and their application in clinical situations.

RESULTS

"Spasticity" is defined as hypertonia in which 1 or both of the following signs are present: 1) resistance to externally imposed movement increases with increasing speed of stretch and varies with the direction of joint movement, and/or 2) resistance to externally imposed movement rises rapidly above a threshold speed or joint angle. "Dystonia" is defined as a movement disorder in which involuntary sustained or intermittent muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements, abnormal postures, or both. "Rigidity" is defined as hypertonia in which all of the following are true: 1) the resistance to externally imposed joint movement is present at very low speeds of movement, does not depend on imposed speed, and does not exhibit a speed or angle threshold; 2) simultaneous co-contraction of agonists and antagonists may occur, and this is reflected in an immediate resistance to a reversal of the direction of movement about a joint; 3) the limb does not tend to return toward a particular fixed posture or extreme joint angle; and 4) voluntary activity in distant muscle groups does not lead to involuntary movements about the rigid joints, although rigidity may worsen.

CONCLUSION

We have provided a set of definitions for the purpose of identifying different components of childhood hypertonia. We encourage the development of clinical rating scales that are based on these definitions, and we encourage research to relate the degree of hypertonia to the degree of functional ability, change over time, and societal participation in children with motor disorders.

[Treatment of the motor cerebral palsy child with botulinum toxin A: mode of action, injection places in management]

Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections in order to decrease spasticity in cerebral palsy. However it is essential to carefully assess children to be treated, and the muscles which need to be injected. Injections of soleus in dynamic equinus without fixed contrature in very young children provide the best results, but other muscles may be injected such as upper limbs muscles. Injections have mainly a functional purpose, but sometimes they may contribute to prevent fixed contractures or pain during nursing.