Ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injections and EMG biofeedback therapy the lower limb muscle spasm after cerebral infarction

H.-X. Chen, W. Wang, H.-Q. Xiao, H. Wang, X.-D. Ding

Department of Rehabilitation, Xiangyang Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China. dingxd1018@163.com

---

• Neurology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy under ultrasound-guided injection of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) and EMG biofeedback treatment of the lower limb muscle spasm after cerebral infarction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six cases of lower limb muscle spasm after cerebral infarction hemiplegia were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group and the control group respectively including 18 cases. Both groups of patients were injected with BTX-A at different sites on spastic muscles. Twenty-four hours later, the treatment group was administered EMG biofeedback. Then, the modified Ashworth scoring was employed to observe the curative effect of the two groups.

RESULTS: After six weeks’ injection, the treatment group scored better than the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided injection of botulinum toxin type A at various sites with EMG biofeedback treatment of the lower limb muscle spasms after cerebral infarction is efficient and conducive to the rehabilitation of patients’ motor functions.

Free PDF Download