Abstract | OBJECTIVE:
Botulinum toxin ( BoNT-A) is widely used in combined treatment for spastic cerebral palsy, but its added value preceding comprehensive rehabilitation for motor impairments, gait, and goal attainment has not been studied. DESIGN: A comparative multi-centre trial, in which two groups underwent comprehensive rehabilitation (i.e. high-intensive functional physiotherapy, and indicated casting/ orthoses). One group received intramuscular BoNT-A prior to rehabilitation, and the other group did not receive BoNT-A. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: Children with spastic cerebral palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III, age range 4-12 years, indicated for BoNT-A treatment regarding mobility problems. METHODS: Sixty-five children participated (37 boys), mean age 7.3 years (standard deviation (SD) 2.3, range 4-12 years), equally distributed across GMFCS levels. Forty-one children received BoNT-A+ comprehensive rehabilitation and 24 received comprehensive rehabilitation only. Functional leg muscle strength, passive range of motion, angle of catch, cerebral palsy-related pain, walking speed, kinematic gait parameters, goal attainment, and proxy-reported general functioning were assessed at baseline, primary end-point (12 weeks) and 24-week follow-up. Statistical analyses were performed with linear mixed models. RESULTS: At the primary end-point there were no statistically significant differences in treatment effects between the groups, except for the angle-of-catch of the rectus femoris, which was in favour of comprehensive rehabilitation without BoNT-A (12° difference, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2:23, p = 0.025). Results at follow-up were similar. CONCLUSION: At the group level, treating with BoNT-A prior to comprehensive rehabilitation did not add to the clinical effectiveness of rehabilitation. Thus, BoNT-A prescription and use should be critically reconsidered in this cerebral palsy age- and GMFCS-subgroup.
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Authors | Fabienne Schasfoort, Robert Pangalila, Emiel M Sneekes, Coriene Catsman, Jules Becher, Herwin Horemans, Henk J Stam, Annet J Dallmeijer, Johannes B J Bussmann |
Journal | Journal of rehabilitation medicine
(J Rehabil Med)
Vol. 50
Issue 8
Pg. 732-742
(Aug 22 2018)
ISSN: 1651-2081 [Electronic] Sweden |
PMID | 30080235
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
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Chemical References |
- Neuromuscular Agents
- Botulinum Toxins, Type A
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Topics |
- Biomechanical Phenomena
(physiology)
- Botulinum Toxins, Type A
(therapeutic use)
- Cerebral Palsy
(rehabilitation)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Gait
(physiology)
- Humans
- Injections, Intramuscular
(methods)
- Male
- Neuromuscular Agents
(therapeutic use)
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