Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

Evidencias actuales sobre las potenciales aplicaciones terapéuticas de la estimulación magnética transcraneal en la esclerosis múltiple: Revisión sistemática de la literatura

IntroductionA growing number of studies have evaluated the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for the symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsWe performed a PubMed search for articles, recent books, and recommendations from the most relevant clinical practice guidelines and scientific societies regarding the use of TMS as symptomatic treatment in MS.ConclusionsExcitatory electromagnetic pulses applied to the affected cerebral hemisphere allow us to optimise functional brain activity, including the transmission of nerve impulses through the demyelinated corticospinal pathway. Various studies into TMS have safely shown statistically significant improvements in spasticity, fatigue, lower urinary tract dysfunction, manual dexterity, gait, and cognitive deficits related to working memory in patients with MS; however, the exact level of evidence has not been defined as the results have not been replicated in a sufficient number of controlled studies. Further well-designed, randomised, controlled clinical trials involving a greater number of patients are warranted to attain a higher level of evidence in order to recommend the appropriate use of TMS in MS patients across the board. TMS acts as an adjuvant with other symptomatic and immunomodulatory treatments. Additional studies should specifically investigate the effect of conventional repetitive TMS on fatigue in these patients, something that has yet to see the light of day.     

Deficits in corticospinal control of stretch reflex thresholds in stroke: Implications for motor impairment

ObjectivesThe corticospinal system (CS) regulates muscle activation through shifts in muscle-level tonic stretch-reflex thresholds (TSRT). This ability is impaired in stroke and contributes to sensorimotor impairments such as spasticity. We determined the role of CS in elbow flexor activity regulation in healthy and post-stroke subjects. We also determined whether CS modulation deficits were related to sensorimotor impairment intensity in post-stroke individuals.MethodsSeventeen healthy (59.8 ± 12.2 yr) and 27 stroke subjects (58.7 ± 10.1 yr) had transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) flexor representation to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in elbow flexors in different angular positions. In a subset of post-stroke subjects (n = 12), flexor TSRTs were measured in passive and active conditions, and TSRT modulation was determined.ResultsPosition-related MEP amplitude modulation was similar in healthy and mild stroke subjects, while subjects with more severe stroke exhibited less consistent modulation. MEP modulation in stroke was related to clinical upper limb motor impairment, spasticity, and the ability to modulate TSRTs between passive and active elbow movements.ConclusionsCS output was closely related to TSRT modulation. Impairments in TSRT regulation may underlie motor deficits in moderate-to-severe post-stroke individuals.SignificanceTranslation of these neurophysiological findings to clinical applications may enhance post-stroke motor recovery.     

按法对大鼠脑卒中后肌痉挛的影响及其机理研究

目的:观察按法干预后脑卒中后肌痉挛大鼠血浆及脊髓L1-L3节段灰质前角组织中γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)和甘氛酸(Gly)含量的变化,探讨按法缓解脑卒中后肌痉挛的作用机制。方法:健康成年雄性Sprague-DawIey(SD)大鼠80只,随机抽取10只为空白组,其余70只造模。采用左颈外动脉插入线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉局灶性脑缺血(MCAO)模型。Longa神经功能评定为2-3分,且改良Ashworth肌张力评分评定为;1+、1+及2级的30只大鼠纳入实验。用随机数字表法将30只造模成功的大鼠随机分为模型组、按肌腱组和按肌腹组。造模成功2 d后,按肌腱组及按肌腹组大鼠分别接受大鼠按法橾作治疗仪按股四头肌肌腱和按股四头肌肌腹治疗,压力控制在(350±50)g,按压频率为5s/次,每次15 min,每日1次,连续治疗5d。各组于治疗第5次后,采用改良Ashworth#挛评定标准对大鼠股四头肌的张力进行评定。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法观察大鼠血浆及脊髓L1-L3节段中Gly的含量变化,采用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)观察大鼠血浆及脊髓L1-L3节段中GABA的含量变化。结果:各组改良Ashworth量表肌张力评定中,按肌腱组大鼠肌张力下降较按肌腹组更为明显(P<0.01);按肌腱组血浆及香髓L1-L3节段组织中Gly及GABA的含量增加较按肌腹组更为明显(均P<0.01)。结论:基于腱器官“反牵张反射”理论,采用按法刺激腱器官诱发“反牵张反射”对大鼠肌痉挛状态的改善效果优于按压肌腹。大鼠血浆和脊髓L1-L3节段中Gly和GABA含量的增加,可能是按法刺激腱器官改善大鼠肌痉挛状态的作用机制之一。     

Dry needling technique decreases spasticity and improves general functioning in incomplete spinal cord injury: A case report

Context: Spasticity in neurological disorders (i.e. stroke patients and cerebral palsy) is positively improved by dry needling. However, reports are scarce regarding the potential effects of dry needling in reducing spasticity and improving functionality in patients with an incomplete spinal cord injury. The aim of this case report was to study the immediate, short-term effects of dry needling treatment (10 weeks) on spasticity, dynamic stability, walking velocity, self-independence, and pain in a single patient with an incomplete spinal cord injury.

Findings: The dry needling treatment resulted in immediate, short-time effects on basal spasticity in the upper (reduction from 2 to 0 point median) and lower (reduction from 2 to 0 point median) limbs, as measured by the modified Ashworth Scale. Dynamic-stability, assessed by trunk accelerometry, improved more than 50% (Root Mean Squared of acceleration, Root Mean Squared of Jerk and step variability), and gait speed improved by 24.7?s (i.e. time to walk 20?m). Self-independence and pain were respectively scored by the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (21 points improvement) and visual analog scale (4 points improvement).

Conclusions: This case report demonstrates that dry needling treatment can have positive effects on spasticity, dynamic stability, walking velocity, self-independence, and pain in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Further research is needed in a larger patient population to deeply understand the mechanism(s) associated with the obtained results and regarding the clinical significances of dry needling treatment for incomplete spinal cord injury.     

Onset,time course and prediction of spasticity after stroke or traumatic brain injury

ObjectiveTo describe spasticity from the onset of acquired brain injury, time course over the first year and factors associated with prediction of the development of spasticity.MethodsRecent relevant literature known to the authors, along with a complementary search yielding a total of 9 articles, represented the base for this scoping review.ResultsSpasticity can be seen in the first week after brain injury and is more common in the upper than lower extremity. The severity of upper-limb impairment is a major factor in the development of spasticity during the first year after stroke. The prevalence of severe spasticity seems to increase during the first year. The combination of reduced arm motor function and spasticity in an early phase (4 weeks post-stroke) is an important predictor of the development of severe spasticity after 12 months. Spontaneous reduction in spasticity was seldom reported but may occur, especially in mild forms of spasticity.ConclusionSigns of spasticity can often be noted within the first 4 weeks after brain injury and is more common in the upper than lower extremity. Impaired sensorimotor function is a predictor. These findings highlight the importance to follow up patients with increased risk of developing severe spasticity to be able to start adequate spasticity treatment and prevent the negative consequences of spasticity. Understanding spasticity onset and progression also provides a basis for the development of effective therapies.     

Adjunct therapies to improve outcomes after botulinum toxin injection in children: A systematic review

BackgroundBotulinum toxin (BTX) injection alone is not sufficient to treat spasticity in children, notably those with cerebral palsy; thus, there is an emerging trend for adjunct therapies to offer greater outcomes than BTX alone.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the general effectiveness of adjunct therapies regardless of their nature in children with spasticity.MethodsMedline, Cochrane and Embase databases were searched from January 1980 to March 15, 2018 for reports of parallel-group trials (randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and non-RCTs) assessing adjunct therapies after BTX injection for treating spasticity in children. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias by using the PEDro scale for RCTs and Downs and Black scale (D&B) for non-RCTs.ResultsOverall, 20 articles involving 662 participants met the inclusion criteria. The average quality was good for the 16 RCTs (mean PEDro score 7.4 [SD 1.6]) and poor to moderate for the 4 non-RCTs (D&B score 9 to 17). Adjunct therapies consisted of casting/posture, electrical stimulation, resistance training and rehabilitation programmes. Casting associated with BTX injection improved the range of passive and active motion and reduced spasticity better than did BTX alone (9 studies), with a follow-up of 1 year. Resistance training enhanced the quality and performance of muscles without increasing spasticity. Only 3 rehabilitation programmes were studied, with encouraging results for activities.ConclusionLower-limb posture with casting in children has a high level of evidence, but the long-term efficacy of short-leg casting needs to be evaluated. A comparison between the different modalities of casting is missing, and studies specifically devoted to testing the different kinds of casting are needed. Moreover, the delay to casting after BTX injection is not clear. Data on electrical stimulation are not conclusive. Despite the small number of studies, resistance training could be an interesting adjunct therapy notably to avoid loss of strength after BTX injection. Rehabilitation programmes after BTX injection still need to be evaluated.