Effect of multilevel lower-limb botulinum injections & intensive physical therapy on children with cerebral palsy

Effect of Virtual Reality on Balance Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Virtual Reality (VR) therapy is popular in treating children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) as a new technology for rehabilitation. Nevertheless, no substantial evidence supporting VR therapy promotion has been developed to date. This study aimed to investigate the effects of VR therapy on balance in children with CP. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and Web of Science (updated to December 30, 2021). The systematic review and meta-analysis included all randomized controlled trials that included children with CP. A total of 18 RCT studies were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review, and meta-analysis was performed on 16 of them. Results showed that the VR intervention was beneficial for balance (SMD 0.47 [95% CI, SD 0.28, 0.66]). We concluded that VR therapy interventions for children with CP have positive effects. However, cautious implementation is needed in clinical applications.

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.

The Effect of Botulinum Toxin Injections on Gross Motor Function for Lower Limb Spasticity in Children with Cerebral Palsy

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections and their efficacy on gross motor function for lower limb spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). This retrospective study included 919 injection occasions from 591 children with CP who received a lower limb BoNT-A injection between 2006 and 2016. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88), the Modified Ashworth Scale, and the Modified Tardieu Scale were administered before and after injections. Injections were predominantly administered to children under the age of 6 years. The most common muscle injection site was the calf muscle for dynamic foot deformity. The second most commonly injected muscle was the hip adductor among 2–3 year olds and the hamstring muscle among 4–6 year olds. Distal injections were predominantly administered to high-functioning children, whereas proximal injections were typically administered to low-functioning children. Multilevel injections were mostly administered to midfunctioning children. GMFM-88 scores significantly increased post-injection for both high- and low-functioning groups. Younger age at injection and distal injection type were associated with larger improvements on the GMFM-88 at both short- and midterm follow-up. The target muscles for injection varied depending on gross motor functioning and age. Younger age at injection and distal injection type were significantly related with greater gain in gross motor function.

Effects of Botulinum Toxin A Injection on Ambulation Capacity in Patients with Cerebral Palsy

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study is to assess the change in their ambulatory capacity and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who received botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection and underwent rehabilitation therapy.

METHODS

Thirty patients with CP, 3-13 years who had varied functional levels and lower extremity spasticity, were randomized in two groups. In Group 1(n = 15), BoNT-A was administered to the affected extremity and underwent rehabilitation. In Group 2 (n = 15), the patients underwent only rehabilitation protocol. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Tardieu Scale (TS), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Selective Motor Control, and Goal Attainment Scale were evaluated 4 and 12 weeks after baseline.

RESULTS

The mean scores of the TS (p < 0.001) GMFCS, GAS, and VAS (p < 0.05) significantly improved in Group 1.

CONCLUSION

We think that implementation of rehabilitation protocols with BoNT-A injection is superior to alone rehabilitation therapy and increasing ambulatory capacity in patients with CP.