[Local alcoholisation treatment of spasmodic torticollis].

Abstract

Idiopathic spasmodic torticollis is a type of focal dystonia. Major muscles which rotate the neck are M. sternocleidomastoideus (SCM) and M. splenius capitis (Spl) on both sides. In torticollis patients, its clinical characteristics could be understood as a vectorial summing up of tonus in bilateral SCM and Spl at rest. There is not any curative treatment for dystonia yet. A variety of medications and many types of surgical interventions have been tried without consistent or satisfactory results. In recent days local injection of botulinum-A toxin has shown to be effective in weakening focal dystonias. We used pure ethanol for local injection. Fourteen patients aged between 20-77 years (mean 48.9) were treated by alcoholisation. Disease duration ranged from 5 months to 12 years (mean 4.9 years). All had torticollis alone or had segmental dystonia containing spasmodic torticollis. Patients were recorded electromyographically using surface electrodes to make sure which neck muscles were hypertonic, and were rated before and after treatment according to the stages (0; normal-5; most severe). On the bases of these recordings the two most active muscles were selected for injection. Into the motor point of these muscles 1 ml of 1% lidocaine, and then the same dose of 99% ethanol were injected. This procedure was repeated on the mean ten times (6-14 times) every other week. The number of times of injection was decided in each case. Using the paired Student t test, there was a significant (p less than 0.01) improvement of the stage for the patients after injection, with a mean of 3.7 before treatment and 2.3 after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: O Hasegawa, H Nagatomo, Y Suzuki
• Journal: Rinsho shinkeigaku = Clinical neurology (Rinsho Shinkeigaku) Vol. 30 Issue 7 Pg. 718-22 (Jul 1990) ISSN: 0009-918X [Print] Japan
• PMID: 2242625 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ethanol

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Drug Evaluation
• Electromyography
• Ethanol (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neck Muscles (physiopathology)
• Torticollis (diagnosis, drug therapy)