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Botulinum toxin type A injections for the management of muscle tightness following total hip arthroplasty: a case series

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Development of hip adductor, tensor fascia lata, and rectus femoris muscle contractures following total hip arthroplasties are quite common, with some patients failing to improve despite treatment with a variety of non-operative modalities. The purpose of the present study was to describe the use of and patient outcomes of botulinum toxin injections as an adjunctive treatment for muscle tightness following total hip arthroplasty. Ten patients (14 hips) who had hip adductor, abductor, and/or flexor muscle contractures following total arthroplasty and had been refractory to physical therapeutic efforts were treated with injection of botulinum toxin A. Eight limbs received injections into the adductor muscle, 8 limbs received injections into the tensor fascia lata muscle, and 2 limbs received injection into the rectus femoris muscle, followed by intensive physical therapy for 6 weeks. At a mean final follow-up of 20 months, all 14 hips had increased range in the affected arc of motion, with a mean improvement of 23 degrees (range, 10 to 45 degrees). Additionally all hips had an improvement in hip scores, with a significant increase in mean score from 74 points (range, 57 to 91 points) prior to injection to a mean of 96 points (range, 93 to 98) at final follow-up. There were no serious treatment-related adverse events. Botulinum toxin A injections combined with intensive physical therapy may be considered as a potential treatment modality, especially in difficult cases of muscle tightness that are refractory to standard therapy.
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BioMed Central
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Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and
Research
Open Access
Research article
Botulinum toxin type A injections for the management of muscle
tightness following total hip arthroplasty: a case series
Anil Bhave1, Michael G Zywiel2, Slif D Ulrich2, Mike S McGrath2,
Thorsten M Seyler3, David R Marker2, Ronald E Delanois2 and
Michael A Mont*2
Address: 1Rehabilitation Services, Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore Maryland, USA, 2Center for
Joint Preservation and Replacement, Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore Maryland, USA and
3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem North Carolina, USA
Email: Anil Bhave - anilbhave@yahoo.com; Michael G Zywiel - mike@zywiel.com; Slif D Ulrich - slifulrich@msn.com;
Mike S McGrath - mcgrth@gmail.com; Thorsten M Seyler - tseyler@wfubmc.edu; David R Marker - dmarker2@jhmi.edu;
Ronald E Delanois - rdelanoi@lifebridgehealth.org; Michael A Mont* - mmont@lifebridgehealth.org
* Corresponding author
Abstract
Background: Development of hip adductor, tensor fascia lata, and rectus femoris muscle
contractures following total hip arthroplasties are quite common, with some patients failing to
improve despite treatment with a variety of non-operative modalities. The purpose of the present
study was to describe the use of and patient outcomes of botulinum toxin injections as an
adjunctive treatment for muscle tightness following total hip arthroplasty.
Methods: Ten patients (14 hips) who had hip adductor, abductor, and/or flexor muscle
contractures following total arthroplasty and had been refractory to physical therapeutic efforts
were treated with injection of botulinum toxin A. Eight limbs received injections into the adductor
muscle, 8 limbs received injections into the tensor fascia lata muscle, and 2 limbs received injection
into the rectus femoris muscle, followed by intensive physical therapy for 6 weeks.
Results: At a mean final follow-up of 20 months, all 14 hips had increased range in the affected arc
of motion, with a mean improvement of 23 degrees (range, 10 to 45 degrees). Additionally all hips
had an improvement in hip scores, with a significant increase in mean score from 74 points (range,
57 to 91 points) prior to injection to a mean of 96 points (range, 93 to 98) at final follow-up. There
were no serious treatment-related adverse events.
Conclusion: Botulinum toxin A injections combined with intensive physical therapy may be
considered as a potential treatment modality, especially in difficult cases of muscle tightness that
are refractory to standard therapy.
Background
Adductor and tensor fascia lata muscle contractures fol-
lowing total hip arthroplasty are problems that can com-
promise results. Although certain underlying
neuromuscular conditions such as Parkinson's disease
may increase the risk of post-operative muscle tightness
Published: 26 August 2009
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2009, 4:34 doi:10.1186/1749-799X-4-34
Received: 13 May 2009
Accepted: 26 August 2009
This article is available from: http://www.josr-online.com/content/4/1/34
© 2009 Bhave et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2009, 4:34 http://www.josr-online.com/content/4/1/34
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[1], the reason for contracture development is unclear in
many patients. There have been recent attempts using var-
ious surgical techniques, including modified and mini-
mally invasive approaches aimed at reducing this
complication. In addition, various rehabilitation algo-
rithms have been utilized in combination with these sur-
gical techniques to attempt to further reduce the incidence
and severity of these functional contractures [2-4].
Despite the reduction in their overall frequency, persistent
contractures remain difficult to treat in some patients and
may require further operative intervention. Some of the
common surgical treatment modalities include adductor
muscle lengthening, tensor fascia lata muscle release,
exploration and resection of adhesions, and revision
arthroplasty [2,5]. These invasive therapeutic techniques
have led to variable outcomes and sometimes only mar-
ginal improvements, with reported success in only 0 to
60% of patients [2,6]. These results suggest that secondary
surgeries are often not beneficial for patients who fail
standard physical therapy interventions, and additional
non-operative treatments should be considered.
There is no consensus concerning the best rehabilitation
or physical therapy methods to treat patients with severe
cases of muscle tightness. After the first indications of stiff-
ness following surgery, mobilization and physical therapy
are generally the first steps taken for treatment of muscle
contractures. However, there are discrepancies in the
reports about the efficacy of various rehabilitation algo-
rithms. When conventional rehabilitation interventions
are unsuccessful, more intensive measures such as manual
therapy, lidocaine injections, bracing, and manipulation
under anesthesia may be employed [2,7]. However, these
methods may fail and other non-operative treatment
options should be considered.
The use of botulinum neurotoxin has been reported for
the treatment of spastic neuromuscular conditions such as
cerebral palsy and idiopathic clubfoot [8-11]. The under-
lying mechanism of action of botulinum toxin occurs at
the cellular level, with neuromuscular transmissions
blocked as a result of the inhibition of acetylcholine
release. By acting selectively on peripheral cholinergic
nerve endings, injected botulinum toxin leads to chem-
odenervation and local paralysis [12]. This temporary
paralysis relieves muscle over-activity, which has been
shown to be a direct cause of muscle shortening and the
associated limitations in both active and passive range of
motion [13]. Furthermore, by alleviating muscle over-
activity, the botulinum injections also ease extrinsic
stretching of the muscle, thus facilitating subsequent ther-
apeutic stretching modalities [14]. The direct clinical
effects of temporary paralysis by botulinum toxin in
humans have been shown to take affect within a few days
and are most effective in the first ten to twelve weeks fol-
lowing treatment [10,15,16]. Based on its ability to block
neuromuscular transmissions, and to provide safe and
temporary muscle paralysis, botulinum toxin type A was
selected as a potential ancillary therapeutic intervention
for this study.
The purpose of this study was to describe the use and the
patient outcomes of botulinum toxin injections in con-
junction with intensive manual joint mobilizations and
stretching programs to treat patients with persistent con-
tractures who were recalcitrant to traditional rehabilita-
tion efforts following total hip arthroplasty.
Methods
The current study encompassed a retrospective review of
ten patients (fourteen hips) who received a total hip
arthroplasty and had post-operative adductor, tensor fas-
cia lata, and/or rectus femoris muscle contractures. The
primary endpoints for this study were an improvement in
hip range of motion and functional outcome. The index
surgeries were performed between March 2002 and Janu-
ary 2008. The greater majority of total hip arthroplasty
patients begin to gain range of motion within 2 to 3 weeks
following their index arthroplasty, and continue to
improve for up to one year. However, in this study, we
specifically addressed a small group of patients who had a
markedly different post-operative course. These patients
showed a distinct pattern of early post-operative muscle
tightness, spasm, and pain, and despite their participating
in therapy for up to 2 months following the index arthro-
plasty, showed no change in range of motion with diffi-
culties participating in rehabilitation efforts. All of these
individuals had persistent post-operative muscle contrac-
tures, and had no concomitant neuromuscular disease.
For this reason, alternative treatments were considered
following 2 months of physical therapy. After meeting
various exclusion and inclusion criteria, these patients
were selected to receive botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A)
treatment, followed by a 6 week physical therapy regimen.
Patients were seen daily in physical therapy for 2 weeks
following BoNT/A injection, followed by visits 3 times
weekly for an additional 4 weeks. Institutional review
board approval was obtained for this study. All clinical
data collected following botulinum therapy was reviewed
and analyzed for this investigation.
Patient Selection
The inclusion and exclusion criteria used to select total
hip arthroplasty patients for botulinum treatment were:
A) The patient underwent conventional rehabilitation fol-
lowing their joint replacement surgery; B) The initial reha-
bilitation outcome was unsuccessful based on having a
refractory hip flexion and/or abduction contracture of 10
degrees or more, or an inability to abduct the hip past 10
degrees; C) Adductor and tensor fascia lata muscle con-
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tractures were diagnosed based on the individual's com-
plaint of tightness and/or spasms and subsequent clinical
evaluation. The clinical tests included assessment of mus-
cle flexibility using the Thomas test for hip flexors [17,18],
a modified Ober Test [19] for tightness of the tensor fascia
lata and the iliotibial band, and an assessment of hip
abduction range of motion for adductor muscle tightness;
D) The patient had no existing clinical or radiographic
abnormalities such as aseptic or septic loosening, mala-
ligned components, instability, and/or osteolysis. Stand-
ard radiographic examinations and clinical evaluations
were used to identify individuals with one or more of
these exclusion criteria; and E) The patient had no under-
lying symptomatic spastic neuromuscular disease.
There were two men and eight women who met the estab-
lished selection criteria. Nine patients had a primary total
hip arthroplasty and one patient had contractures follow-
ing a revision from a bipolar to a total hip arthroplasty.
The patients had a mean age of 48 years (range, 19 to 66
years). The underlying diagnosis for the total hip arthro-
plasty was osteonecrosis in two hips, and osteoarthritis in
all remaining cases. Twelve hips were treated with metal-
on-metal total hip resurfacing arthroplasty, two hips with
stemmed prostheses and a 22 mm head, and the remain-
ing two hips with a stemmed prosthesis and a 26 mm
head. After surgery, all patients received standard physical
therapeutic modalities at a frequency of 3 times a week.
These modalities included range of motion and progres-
sive resisted strengthening exercises and deep heat treat-
ments. The patients showed minimal improvement in
both functionality and pain following two or more
months of conventional management (except for one at 5
weeks). Common symptoms included: groin pain, back
pain, difficulty walking long distances, and limps.
Patients also complained of difficulty sitting in, and rising
from a chair, as well as descending and ascending stairs.
Radiographs revealed well-aligned components with no
evidence of loosening and no heterotopic ossification in
all patients. Clinical evaluation suggested adductor, rectus
femoris, and/or tensor fascia lata muscle rigidity as the
primary cause of the patients' symptoms. Based on these
findings and the continued poor response to standard
rehabilitation techniques, these patients were qualified
for inclusion in this study.
Botulinum Toxin Type A Treatment
The botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) used for treatment
in the present study was supplied in vials of 100 units, sus-
pended in 1 milliliter of solution including 0.5 milligrams
of human albumin and 0.9 milligrams of sodium chloride
(Allergan, Irvine, California). This was further diluted in 4
milliliters of normal saline immediately prior to injection.
The mean time from index surgery to treatment with bot-
ulinum toxin type A injections was 11 months (range, 1 to
69 months). One patient underwent botulinum toxin
treatment five weeks following the index surgery because
it was believed that her progress was sufficiently poor that
further standard rehabilitation would be of limited bene-
fit. All the remaining patients underwent a minimum of 2
full months of standard rehabilitation following the index
arthroplasty. The adductor magnus and brevis muscles
were injected in eight limbs, the tensor fascia lata muscle
in eight limbs, and the rectus femoris muscle was injected
in two limbs. Two patients received injections in both
adductor and tensor fasica lata muscles, and two patients
received injections in both the tensor fascia lata and rectus
femoris muscles. All injections were administered by the
senior author (MAM). Patients were placed in a frog leg
position for the adductor muscle injection, in a lateral
position for the injection of the tensor fascia lata muscle,
and in a supine position for injection of the rectus femoris
muscle. The injections were performed using a 23 or a 25
gauge needle. The injection sites were identified using a
muscle palpation technique, which has previously been
described as adequate for the injection of large, superficial
muscles [20]. For the adductor magnus and brevis mus-
cles, patients were given dosages of 100 units of botuli-
num toxin type A at four sites. Similarly, the rectus femoris
muscles were injected at four sites with a total of 100 units
of BoNT/A, and the tensor fascia lata muscles were
injected at four sites with 100 units of BoNT/A (see Figure
1). These dosages were selected based on previously pub-
lished recommendations for the injection of large muscles
[21].
Immediately following the injections, patients were exam-
ined for any signs of adverse reaction to the toxin (skin
redness, swelling, or systemic symptoms). The patients
were also contacted by telephone one and two days fol-
lowing the injections, and evaluated during subsequent
clinical visits, to ensure that there were no complications
or negative effects due to the toxin. The patients were fol-
lowed for a median of 17 months (mean 20 months;
range, 12 to 62 months) after receiving botulinum ther-
apy.
After receiving the injections, the patients were started on
a rehabilitation regime which consisted of outpatient
treatment for six continuous weeks. Intensive physical
therapy combined with mobilization and stretching of the
adductor and abductor muscles was utilized daily for 2
weeks, followed by three times a week for four weeks. All
patients received targeted muscle stretching and joint
mobilization (Grade III), consisting of holding the joint
at the end of their range for 30 seconds, followed by man-
ual application of 15 to 20 oscillations at the end range of
motion. All of the manual therapy was performed with
opposite limb immobilization and pelvic stabilization.
We used modified Ober or Kendall positioning for mobi-
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lization of the tensor fascia lata muscle. The rectus femoris
muscle was mobilized in the Ely position, and the adduc-
tor muscles were stretched in both frog leg and supine
positions. Each mobilization was performed for 30 to 45
seconds with end-range oscillations. Typically, patients
were treated with 7 to 10 mobilizations for each move-
ment pattern. In addition, all patients received hip flexor
mobilization in the Thomas test position. All patients
received a standard home exercise program prescribed to
all hip arthroplasty patients at our institution for contin-
ued joint mobilization and muscle strength maintenance
following the completion of formal physical therapy.
Only patients with a minimum of 12 months follow-up
were included in this report. In the absence of any specific
complaints, follow-up intervals after 12 months were on
an annual basis as per our institution's standard total hip
arthroplasty follow-up guidelines.
Prior to index surgery and throughout follow-up, contrac-
ture and arc of motion measurements were made for each
subject using a bubble goniometer to assess the clinical
outcome. Patients were also evaluated using the Harris
hip score rating system [22].
Statistical Analysis
Data was subjected to averaging and analysis using Sigma
Stat software (version 3.00, Systat Corporation, San Jose,
California). The clinical outcomes following botulinum
toxin type A injection were compared to those prior to
treatment using a paired t test, where a p-value of < 0.05
was considered significant.
Results
All 14 hips achieved a minimum of 10 degrees improve-
ment of arc of motion previously restricted by the con-
tracted muscles, with an overall mean improvement in arc
of motion of 23 degrees (range, 10 to 45 degrees).
The eight hips with adductor muscle contractures had a
mean improvement in maximum abduction of 31 degrees
(range, 20 to 45 degrees), from a pre-injection mean max-
imal abduction of 8 degrees (range, -5 to 15 degrees) to 38
degrees (range, 15 to 55 degrees) at final follow-up. The
eight hips that had tensor fascia lata contractures had a
mean improvement in maximum adduction of 16 degrees
(range, 10 to 25 degrees), from a pre-injection mean max-
imal adduction of -9 degrees (range, -15 to -5 degrees) to
a mean of 7 degrees (range, -5 to 20 degrees) at final fol-
low-up. Both hips with flexion contractures achieved full
extension, with a mean decrease in fixed flexion deformity
of 15 degrees (range, 10 to 20 degrees). A comprehensive
overview of the results for all treated patients can be found
in Additional File 1.
All of the treated hips had Harris hip scores of 80 points
or more at the time of final follow-up, and were consid-
ered to have a successful clinical outcome. The mean
improvement in Harris Hip scores from the time of injec-
tion to final follow-up was 22 points (range, 2 to 40
points). The Harris Hip scores improved from a mean of
53 points (range 25 to 75 points) prior to index surgery,
to a mean of 74 points (range 57 to 91 points) prior to
botulinum toxin injection, and to a mean of 96 points
(range 93 to 98 points) at final follow-up (p < 0.001; see
Table 1).
There were no serious complications directly associated
with the botulinum treatment. Two patients developed
mild, transient flu-like symptoms that lasted for two days.
However, the patients recovered without further difficul-
ties and showed no noted later effects. Three patients
developed redness and swelling at the injection site last-
ing for several days following treatment, but which
resolved within one week in all cases.
Discussion
There is still controversy concerning the preferred treat-
ment algorithm for muscle contractures following total
hip arthroplasty. As previously described, the results of
physical therapy have been less than optimal in some dif-
ficult cases, and regardless of the specific protocol, there
remain a number of cases that do not respond to standard
non-operative treatment methods. The present study
identified a cohort of patients who continued to show
Botulinum toxin injection pointsFigure 1
Botulinum toxin injection points. Illustration of the loca-
tions of the botulinum toxin injections into the adductor,
tensor fascia lata, and rectus femoris muscles.
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post-operative muscle contractures and unsatisfactory
clinical outcomes despite aggressive rehabilitation efforts.
This difficult-to-treat patient group was selected to evalu-
ate the effectiveness of using BoNT/A injections as a new
ancillary treatment modality in the most severe cases of
flexion contracture.
Until recently, there have been few studies indicating that
utilized botulinum toxin injections in orthopaedic
patients [21,23]. In a study by Alvarez et al., it was used to
manage limb spasticity in fifty-one patients with idio-
pathic clubfoot [8]. None of the patients had prior surgery
for clubfoot, and the botulinum toxin was utilized as a
substitute for tenotomy to attenuate the function of the
triceps surae muscle complex. The patients were followed
for a mean of 15 months (range, 1 to 27 months). The
results were given for two groups: the first group included
patients less than one month old (29 patients), and the
second group comprised individuals who were more than
one month of age (22 patients). One month following
botulinum toxin treatment, the mean ankle dorsiflexion
with the knee in flexion improved from 8.0 ± 11.6 degrees
to 31.5 ± 11.8 degrees in the first group and 6.1 ± 9.7
degrees to 24.6 ± 9.7 degrees in the second group. The
ankle dorsiflexion in flexion remained above 20 degrees
for both groups at final follow-up. Similarly, the mean
dorsiflexion in extension also improved for both groups,
remaining above 15 degrees at a final follow-up of 9
months (range, 1 week to 27 months). Overall, only one
patient required limited posterior release and nine
patients required repeat manipulation and casting. Based
on these results, the study identified botulinum type A as
an effective therapeutic approach for idiopathic clubfoot.
To the best of our knowledge, there are only four reports
in the literature that evaluated the use of BoNT/A treat-
ment following lower extremity joint arthroplasty. Seyler
et al. reported on preliminary results of 11 knee flexion
contractures after total knee arthroplasties [24]. Overall, 9
of the 11 knees achieved extension to within 10 degrees of
neutral by 2 years following BoNT/A treatment, and 8 of
11 knees maintained this result at a mean follow-up of 36
months. Fish and Chang reported a case of treating iliop-
soas tendinitis after a left total hip arthroplasty [25]. The
71 year old woman reported pain that had worsened over
a 4 month period and had been made worse by daily
activities such as walking and climbing stairs. She showed
no signs of periprosthetic infection or malpositioning of
the prosthesis. Following injection of 100 units of BoNT/
A, both her function and pain showed improvements by
6 months. Her Oswestry Disability index decreased from
26 to 18 points, and her pain intensity numerical rating
scale decreased from 7 to 1 on a 10-point scale. The
authors suggested that this technique may be an alterna-
tive to surgical intervention. Bertoni at al reported the case
of a female patient who suffered from complications after
total hip arthroplasty [26]. Due to severe pain in the glu-
teal region not responding to standard treatments, the
patient was unable to stand in an upright position or
walk, and she was forced to stop her rehabilitation pro-
gram. Treatment by injection of BoNT/A in the gluteus
maximus muscle brought about complete resolution of
pain and functional recovery. At final follow up of 16
months, hip assessment confirmed complete pain reduc-
tion. Shah et al. reported on the use of botulinum injec-
tions for the treatment of a flexion contracture following
a total knee arthroplasty in a 61 year old patient with Par-
kinson's disease [27]. Despite physical therapy, the
patient showed little improvement and range of motion
was only from 30 to 100 degrees of flexion at one month
follow-up. At six weeks after surgery, the patient was
injected with 200 units of botulinum toxin type A in the
long head of the biceps femoris and the semitendinosus
muscle, and at four months he was injected in the gastroc-
nemius muscle. At final follow-up of 6.5 months, the
patient's range of motion improved to 8 to 125 degrees.
Some authors have expressed concerns regarding the cost
of using botulinum type A injections to treat muscle
spasms [28]. This concern is relevant for patients who suf-
fer from neurological conditions that cause chronic mus-
cle spasms as they would likely require continuous,
periodic botulinum treatments. However, none of the
patients in this study had flexion contractures associated
with a neurological disorder and would ideally require
only one treatment. While the authors await long-term
results to see if the initial botulinum treatment is suffi-
cient, the mean follow-up of 20 months for this study sug-
gests that a single dose botulinum injection can provide
desirable results beyond the ten to twelve weeks in which
botulinum is most effective as a neuromuscular transmis-
sion inhibitor. No formal physical therapy was required
beyond six weeks to maintain these results.
BoNT/A injections may be used with or without local
anesthetic, and the toxin has no affect on sensation fol-
lowing treatment. Reports of complications such as fever,
pain, local irritation, and redness following BoNT/A bot-
ulinum injections are rare, and the effects have only been
Table 1: Comparison of mean Harris hip scores prior to surgery,
prior to botulinum toxin injection, and at final follow-up
points p value
Mean pre-operative Harris hip score 53
<0.001
Mean pre-injection Harris hip score 74
<0.001
Mean final follow-up Harris hip score 96
p values were calculated using a paired t-test
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temporary. While reactions to the injections were not
uncommon in our study group, the effects were relatively
minor, of short duration, and resolved without any fur-
ther problems, which was consistent with the low risk
level associated with the use of BoNT/A injections.
The limitations of this study include the relatively short-
term follow-up, the small numbers of hips (n = 14), and
the possible patient selection bias. In addition, this is a
retrospective case series with no comparison group, mak-
ing it impossible to determine whether these patients
might have experienced some functional improvement
without this treatment method. Although a review of the
records did not reveal any sizeable pre-operative muscle
contractures, the design of the study did not allow for an
accurate assessment of the duration of the pre-operative
disability, which might have influenced the post-opera-
tive course. Nevertheless, despite these limitations, we did
find significant clinical improvement and good outcomes,
without severe complications in this difficult to treat
group of patients who had not made progress. Although
only a preliminary study, we believe that these results pro-
vide useful information to the orthopaedic community
regarding the treatment of patients with muscle tightness
after total hip arthroplasty who are refractory to standard
rehabilitation protocols. We are presently studying this
treatment modality in a prospective and controlled man-
ner.
Conclusion
These therapeutic findings suggest that the ancillary use of
BoNT/A injections when combined with physical thera-
peutic modalities improved clinical results for patients
with hip adductor and tensor fascia lata muscle tightness
who do not respond to conventional treatment modali-
ties. The clinical significance of this study is that patients
with contractures who are severely debilitated can have an
improved quality of life after BoNT/A, reflected by
increased functional abilities and/or decreased pain.
Additional studies with larger patient cohorts are cur-
rently underway, and the authors await long-term results
to see if the promising results of this study can be main-
tained.
Competing interests
No external financial support was received in support of
this study.
MAM is a consultant for Stryker Orthopaedics and Wright
Medical Technologies.
None of the other authors have any financial or non-
financial competing interests to disclose.
Authors' contributions
AB, SDU, TMS, RED, MAM designed the study. MSM,
TMS, DRM, RED, MAM collected the data. MGZ, SDU,
MSM, DRM analyzed the data. AB, MGZ, SDU, TMS, DRM
prepared the manuscript. AB, MGZ, MSM, RED, MAM
ensured the accuracy of the data and analysis. All authors
have read and approved the final manuscript.
Additional material
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13. Huet de la Tour E, Tardieu C, Tabary JC, Tabary C: Decrease of
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Additional file 1
Summary of patients treated with BoNT/A injection. Overview of the
demographic profile and pre and post-treatment clinical findings for
patients who received botox injection for the management of hip adductor,
tensor fascia lata, and/or rectus femoris muscle contractures
Click here for file
[http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/supplementary/1749-
799X-4-34-S1.doc]
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Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2009, 4:34 http://www.josr-online.com/content/4/1/34
Page 7 of 7
(page number not for citation purposes)
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headaches. Pain Physician 2004, 7:377-387.
16. Wong SM, Hui AC, Tong PY, Poon DW, Yu E, Wong LK: Treat-
ment of lateral epicondylitis with botulinum toxin: a rand-
omized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med
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17. Gleim GW, Stachenfeld NS, Nicholas JA: The influence of flexibil-
ity on the economy of walking and jogging. J Orthop Res 1990,
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18. Thomas HO: The classic. Diseases of the hip, knee and ankle
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method. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1974:4-9.
19. The classic. Back strain and sciatica. By Frank R. Ober, 1935.
Clin Orthop Relat Res 1987:4-7.
20. Van Heest AE: Applications of botulinum toxin in orthopedics
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21. Seyler TM, Smith BP, Marker DR, Ma J, Shen J, Smith TL, Mont MA,
Kolaski K, Koman LA: Botulinum neurotoxin as a therapeutic
modality in orthopaedic surgery: more than twenty years of
experience. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2008, 90(Suppl 4):133-145.
22. Harris WH: Traumatic arthritis of the hip after dislocation
and acetabular fractures: treatment by mold arthroplasty.
An end-result study using a new method of result evaluation.
J Bone Joint Surg Am 1969, 51:737-755.
23. Placzek R, Drescher W, Deuretzbacher G, Hempfing A, Meiss AL:
Treatment of chronic radial epicondylitis with botulinum
toxin A. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized
multicenter study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2007, 89:255-260.
24. Seyler TM, Jinnah RH, Koman LA, Marker DR, Mont MA, Ulrich SD,
Bhave A: Botulinum toxin type A injections for the manage-
ment of flexion contractures following total knee arthro-
plasty. J Surg Orthop Adv 2008, 17:231-238.
25. Fish DE, Chang WS: Treatment of iliopsoas tendinitis after a
left total hip arthroplasty with botulinum toxin type A. Pain
Physician 2007, 10:565-571.
26. Bertoni M, Castagna A, Baricich A, Berti G, Lazzaretti S, Morandi C:
Administration of type a botulinum toxin after total hip
replacement. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2008, 44:461-465.
27. Shah SN, Hornyak J, Urquhart AG: Flexion contracture after
total knee arthroplasty in a patient with Parkinson's disease:
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Supplementary resource (1)

Data
August 2009
Anil Bhave · Michael G Zywiel · Slif D Ulrich · Mike S Mcgrath · Michael A Mont
... Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is administered as an injection treatment for patients with poor muscle function (Bhave et al., 2009). ...
... Spastic paralysis of the TFL is relatively common in patients with central nervous system damage. BoNT injection relieves muscles and facilitates walking (Bhave et al., 2009). Fish and Chang (2007) injected ...
... Finally, nerve ending points can be used as indicators for BoNT injections into the TFL. A previous study indicated that the injection of BoNT into the TFL in a patient with spastic paralysis of the legs increased the passive range of motion during gait and rehabilitation (Bhave et al., 2009). Bhave et al. (2009) ...
Article
Full-text available
The aims of this study were to clarify the extra‐ and intramuscular branching patterns of the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) with reference to surface landmarks on the thigh and to thus suggest a safe approach for total hip arthroplasty. Sixteen fixed and four fresh cadavers were dissected and subjected to the modified Sihler's staining method to reveal the extra‐ and intramuscular innervation patterns, and the findings were matched with surface landmarks. The landmarks were measured from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the patella and divided into 20 parts along the total length. The average vertical length of the TFL was 15.92 ± 1.61 cm, which was 38.79 ± 2.73% when converted to a percentage. The entry point of the superior gluteal nerve (SGN) was an average of 6.87 ± 1.26 cm (16.71 ± 2.55%) from the ASIS. In all cases, the SGN entered parts 3–5 (10.1%–25%). As the intramuscular nerve branches traveled distally, they had a tendency to innervate more deeply and inferiorly. In all cases, the main SGN branches were intramuscularly distributed in parts 4 and 5 (15.1%–25%). Most tiny SGN branches were found inferiorly in parts 6 and 7 (25.1%–35%). In three of 10 cases, very tiny SGN branches were observed in part 8 (35.1%–38.79%). We did not observe SGN branches in parts 1–3 (0%–15%). When information on the extra‐ and intramuscular nerve distributions was combined, we found that the nerves were concentrated in parts 3–5 (10.1%–25%). We propose that damage to the SGN can be prevented if parts 3–5 (10.1%–25%) are avoided during surgical treatment, particularly during the approach and incision.
... Intratendinous administration site was 1 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle toward the tender spot [25]. Intramuscular administration varied between studies: 3 to 4 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle with infiltration of the muscle at two locations [26], 5 cm distal to the area of maximal tenderness at the lateral epicondyle, in line with the middle of the wrist [27], or at the site where the motor nerve branch (posterior interosseous nerve) enters the extensor digitorum and extensor carpi ulnaris muscles. This point is at a distance of 33% of the forearm length from the lateral epicondyle to the posterior midpoint of the wrist [28]. ...
... For patients unresponsive to one injection, repeating the procedure after 2 weeks led to better control of pain, with no increase in the number of side reactions. Regarding the total dose per area, research suggests that low doses (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40) and high doses (75-100 UI) have similar effects in the short term, whereas high doses have a better effect in the long term, with no additional adverse reactions [34,35]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), a product of Clostridium botulinum, reversibly inhibits the presynaptic release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. In addition, BoNT blocks the transmission of other substances involved in pain perception and, together with a soft-tissue anti-inflammatory effect, may play a role in analgesia. When first-line treatment fails, second-line therapies might include BoNT. Studies on chronic and recurrent pain using different mechanisms offer heterogenous results that must be validated and standardized. Plantar fasciitis, severe knee osteoarthritis, painful knee and hip arthroplasty, antalgic muscular contractures, and neuropathic and myofascial pain syndromes may benefit from the administration of BoNT. Research on this topic has revealed the main musculoskeletal conditions that can benefit from BoNT, stressing the effects, modalities of administration, doses, and schedule.
... In other studies, muscles around hip joint including adductor muscle, tensor fascia lata muscle, and rectus femoris muscle can also affect its pressure [10]. However, some studies have reported that injection into the adductor muscle has a risk of femoral nerve injury and hematoma [8]. ...
... However, some studies have reported that injection into the adductor muscle has a risk of femoral nerve injury and hematoma [8]. Although psoas major muscle plays an important role as a stabilizer of the hip joint [7], several other muscles and ligaments (iliofemoral ligament, pubofemoral ligament, ischiofemoral ligament) around the hip joint contribute to the stabilization and motion of the hip joint [10]. Therefore, psoas major muscle relaxation only with ...
... No direct evidence has been published to date that excludes the role of muscle overactivity, which can be treated with BoNT [29]. Interestingly, in patients with hip and knee contractures following arthroplasty who were refractory to physical therapy, BoNT improved ROM [32,33]. Future research is necessary to delineate the role of BoNT in decreasing the risk of or relieving sustained joint stiffness. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background To explore the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin in patients who received distraction osteogenesis of the lower extremities. Methods We searched the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for randomized controlled trials that administered botulinum toxin to individuals who underwent distraction osteogenesis of the lower limbs. The final search was conducted on July 6, 2021. Quality assessments were conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Jadad scale. We performed random-effects meta-analysis to calculate the standardized mean differences (SMDs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of the pooled effect sizes, and subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed for potential moderators. Results Our analysis of four randomized controlled trials, which enrolled a total of 257 participants, revealed that the difference in pain during the distraction phase was not statistically significant between groups (SMD, − 0.165; 95% CI, − 0.379 to 0.050, p = 0.133, I ² = 0.0%). The meta-regression analyses did not find any influence on the effect size, considering age (β = − 0.0092; p = 0.61) and the amount of lengthening (β = 0.0023; p = 0.99). Subgroup analysis did not reveal difference between different doses of botulinum toxin and single or multi-site study design. An analysis of two randomized controlled trials enrolling a total of 177 individuals demonstrated a limited effect of botulinum toxin in reducing postoperative pain (SMD, − 0.239; 95% CI, − 0.641 to 0.162, p = 0.24, I ² = 37.6%), total adverse events (SMD, − 0.207; 95% CI, − 0.505 to 0.090, p = 0.17, I ² = 0.0%), and infection of pin site (SMD, − 0.131; 95% CI, − 0.428 to 0.165, p = 0.39, I ² = 0.0%). No botulinum toxin–related adverse events were reported. Conclusions The current evidence does not support the administration of botulinum toxin in patients who receive distraction osteogenesis of the lower limbs. However, we were unable to draw decisive conclusions because of the limitations of our meta-analysis. Future well-designed, large-scale randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm our conclusions.
... A reduction in hypertrophic scar, spasticity as well as pain facilitates early rehabilitation including physiotherapy. Therefore, even after total hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty and for the treatment of clubfoot it is applied (52). ...
Article
Approximately 30% of all upper extremity fractures are elbow fractures which may result elbow stiffness. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of onaBotulinum Toxin type A injection to prevent post-traumatic pain and elbow-stiffness. All patients were included who presented to a single surgeon with supracondylar/ intraarticular distal humerus fractures, proximal ulna and radius fractures. The study was developed in a randomized placebo controlled study between 2003-2007. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score as well as the arc-of-motion (AOM) were assessed after three, six, twelve-months and final follow up for evaluation. Of the 31-patients included, 15-patients (48.4%) received Botox injections. In all patients no complication was observed when injecting a dosage 100-units for the brachialis and biceps brachii muscles. Furthermore, it was an effective method to prevent post-traumatic elbow stiffness, lasting six- months. Significant differences in DASH, VAS-score and ROM after three-months between the Botox and control group (DASH 21.6±11.0 vs. 55.3±11.0 ; VAS 1.2±5.2 vs. 5.7±21.9 ; ROM 103±7.6 vs. 73±6.3 ; p>0.05) were identified in the prospective group. Botulinum toxin is a safe, reliable and effective treatment to prevent post-traumatic elbow stiffness. Our study demonstrates improved early range-of- motion (p<0.05), better extension after 6 weeks and improved functional outcome including VAS and DASH score (p<0.05).
... Since the sartorius is the only hip and knee exor muscle, it is commonly targeted for BoNT injections to ease spasticity. BoNT injection in the sartorius muscle is not only for spasticity treatment, as many studies have performed BoNT injection to effectively prevent muscle contractures in total hip and knee arthroplasties and other surgeries 31,32 . Awaad et al. reported the functional contribution of BoNT injection into the sartorius muscle in the treatment of postoperative stiff hips. ...
Preprint
Full-text available
This study aimed to detect the idyllic locations for botulinum neurotoxin injection by analyzing the intramuscular neural distributions of the sartorius muscles. A altered Sihler’s staining was conducted on sartorius muscles (15 specimens). The nerve entry points and intramuscular arborization areas were measured as a percentage of the total distance from the most prominent point of the anterior superior iliac spine (0%) to the medial femoral epicondyle (100%). Intramuscular neural distribution were densely detected at 20–40% and 60–80% for the sartorius muscles. The result suggests that the treatment of sartorius muscle spasticity requires botulinum neurotoxin injections in particular locations. These locations, corresponding to the locations of maximum arborization, are suggested as the most safest and effective points for botulinum neurotoxin injection.
... Muscle over-activity/imbalance [2,[9][10][11][14][15][16][17] Trigger pointsMuscle imbalance associate with obstetrical brachial plexus palsyCongenital club foot Muscle tightness post hip arthroplastyFacial paralysis/imbalanceRestless leg syndromeMyokymiaMyoclonusSynkinesisBell's Palsy ...
Article
Full-text available
Injections of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are prescribed by clinicians for a variety of disorders that cause over-activity of muscles; glands; pain and other structures. Accurately targeting the structure for injection is one of the principle goals when performing BoNTs procedures. Traditionally; injections have been guided by anatomic landmarks; palpation; range of motion; electromyography or electrical stimulation. Ultrasound (US) based imaging based guidance overcomes some of the limitations of traditional techniques. US and/or US combined with traditional guidance techniques is utilized and or recommended by many expert clinicians; authors and in practice guidelines by professional academies. This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of available guidance techniques including US as well as technical aspects of US guidance and a focused literature review related to US guidance for chemodenervation procedures including BoNTs injection.
... The use of BT to manage muscle spasms in the TFL has previously been found to reduce symptoms of persistent TFL tightness in patients after hip arthroplasty. 1 In the present study, the hypothesis of a lengthening effect of the TFL/ ITB complex resulting from a BT injection was supported in over 70% of patients. ITB shortening in this population, as previously discussed, 26 may therefore be a significant factor in the perpetuation of symptoms. ...
Article
Background: Pain in the anterior and lateral parts of the knee during exercise is a common clinical problem for which current management strategies are often unsuccessful. Purpose: To investigate the effect of an ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin (BT) injection into the tensor fasciae latae (TFL), followed by physical therapy, in patients classified with lateral patellofemoral overload syndrome (LPOS) who failed to respond to conventional treatment. Study design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 45 patients (mean ± SD age, 32.4 ± 8.6 years) who met the inclusion criteria of (1) activity-related anterolateral knee symptoms, (2) symptoms lasting longer than 3 months, (3) a pathological abnormality confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging, and (4) previous failed physical therapy received an ultrasound-guided injection of BT into the TFL followed by physical therapy. Patient-reported outcomes were collected at 5 intervals: before the injection; at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the injection; and at a mean 5 years after the injection. In 42 patients, relative iliotibial band (ITB) length changes were assessed using the modified Ober test at the first 4 time points. A computational model was run to simulate the effect of TFL weakening on gluteus medius (GMed) activity. Statistical analysis was undertaken using 1-way analysis of variance and paired t tests with Bonferroni post hoc correction. Results: There was a significant improvement in Anterior Knee Pain Scale scores from before the injection (61 ± 15) to 1 (67 ± 15), 4 (70 ± 16), and 12 weeks (76 ± 16) after the injection and in 87% of patients (39/45 patients available for follow-up) at approximately 5 years (from 62.9 ± 15.4 to 87.0 ± 12.5) after the injection (all P < .010). A significant effect on the modified Ober test was identified as a result of the intervention, with an increase in leg drop found at 1 (3° ± 5°), 4 (4° ± 5°), and 12 (7° ± 6°) weeks after the injection compared with before the injection (all P < .010). Simulating a progressive reduction in TFL strength resulted in corresponding increases in GMed activity during gait. Conclusion: An injection of BT into the TFL, combined with physical therapy, resulted in a significant improvement of symptoms in patients with LPOS, which was maintained at 5-year follow-up. This may result from reduced lateral TFL/ITB tension or to an increase in GMed activity in response to inhibition of the TFL.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose This study aimed to detect the idyllic locations for botulinum neurotoxin injection by analyzing the intramuscular neural distributions of the sartorius muscles. Methods An altered Sihler’s staining was conducted on sartorius muscles (15 specimens). The nerve entry points and intramuscular arborization areas were measured as a percentage of the total distance from the most prominent point of the anterior superior iliac spine (0%) to the medial femoral epicondyle (100%). Results Intramuscular neural distribution were densely detected at 20–40% and 60–80% for the sartorius muscles. The result suggests that the treatment of sartorius muscle spasticity requires botulinum neurotoxin injections in particular locations. Conclusions These locations, corresponding to the locations of maximum arborization, are suggested as the most suggestive points for botulinum neurotoxin injection.
Article
IntroductionKnee flexion contracture (KFC) remains a common complication of haemoarthrosis in children and young adults with haemophilia. If the KFC is not treated properly it produces disability, postural and gait abnormalities.Objective Evaluate the effectiveness of conservative treatment of KFC with Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in PWH.Methods Seventeen patients were treated, with 21 affected knees. Mean age was 26 years. The mean follow up was 12 months. We evaluated flexion and KFC pretreatment BTX-A and up to 12 months posttreatment. BTX-A application was in hamstring and calf muscles. To evaluate the function, a questionnaire about different activities was made, and it was checked 3, 6 and 12 months after BTX-A. According to the degree of KFC, knees were divided into 3 groups: Group 1: −10° to −30° (n = 10), Group 2: −31° to −45° (n = 6) Group 3: −46° or more (n = 5).ResultsThe average KFC improved from −38° to −24°. The improvement was 14° (P < 0.001). The average KFC improvement was 9° in group 1, 17° in group 2, and 23° in group 3. There was a high correlation between the improvement in KFC and the total score of the questionnaire R = 0.77.Conclusions Treatment of KFC with BTX-A improves knee-related functional activities, with the advantage of being a low-cost procedure and easy to apply.
Article
The use of botulinum toxin for movement disorders and cosmesis led to an accidental discovery of its beneficial effect on headaches. Extensive anecdotal evidence and several controlled trials suggest that intermittent and chronic migraines and chronic tension headaches may respond to this treatment. The effect of a single treatment, which is simple to administer, can last for 3 months. Botulinum toxin does not cause systemic or any other serious side effects. Prophylactic pharmacotherapy of migraine headaches is limited in its efficacy and has a potential for systemic side effects. This makes botulinum toxin a preferred treatment for many patients. The large controlled trials that are underway may lead to a wider acceptance of this treatment by neurologists and pain specialists.
Article
An end-result analysis is presented of thirty-nine mold arthroplasties performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1945 and 1965 in thirty-eight consecutive private patients for arthritis of the hip following fractures of the acetabulum or dislocations of the hip. Of the nineteen unilateral cases in the second half of the series, sixteen were rated good or excellent. Results in the second half of the series were significantly better statistically than those in the first half of the series. Possible reasons for this improvement are discussed. No significant deterioration occurred with the passage of time. Among the thirty-nine hips, three revisions were required. One patient had postoperative sepsis after arthroplasty. Four patients who had had intra-articular sepsis prior to arthroplasty showed no evidence of sepsis postoperatively. Factors influencing the choice between hip fusion and hip arthroplasty in these cases are presented. A new system for rating hip function is proposed and is compared with the systems of Larson and Shepherd.
Article
Frank Roberts Ober (1881-1960) was born in Mount Desert, Maine, and lived all of his life in New England. After obtaining his medical degree from Tufts in 1905, he began postgraduate training in Boston. Moving through the orthopedic training programs and the junior staff positions, he finally became the John B. and Buckminster Brown Professor of Orthopaedics at Harvard. He served in World War I and became a close friend and associate of Robert Jones, with whom he co-authored a book. In addition to his extensive practice, Ober was active in medical affairs, serving as President of the Massachusetts Medical Society from 1941-1942 and as President of the American Orthopedic Association in 1943. At the time of the publication of his papers on section of the iliotibial band for low back pain and sciatica, the etiology of many of the low back syndromes was obscure. A popular operation was the trisacral fusion with arthrodesis of L5-S1 and both sacroiliac joints.1 The observations of Mixter and Barr2 on the herniated intervertebral disc had just been published. Ober advised his procedure only for those patients whose spinal roentgenograms showed no disease. He may have seen a substantial number of patients with low back pain and sciatica with contractures of the iliotibial band associated with poliomyelitis, which was endemic in New England during the early part of this century. Certainly, Ober's test, described in this Classic, was a regular part of the evaluation of the postpoliomyelitis patients. In a second paper, published the same year, Ober gives the results of his procedure; of 42 patients, 23 were reported "well," ten "improved" and nine were "unimproved."3 (C) Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
Article
The development of knee flexion contractures following total knee arthroplasty is detrimental to a patient's functional capabilities. Despite using aggressive rehabilitative modalities postoperatively, some knee arthroplasty patients do not respond and continue to experience muscle spasms. Botulinum toxin type A has been used as a temporary neuromuscular transmitter blocker to treat muscle spasms in patients with neurological disorders, and it has been utilized as a treatment method for clubfoot. The purpose of this study was to evaluate botulinum toxin type A as a new treatment modality for patients with flexion contractures following total knee arthroplasty that were recalcitrant to standard treatment methods. By 2 years following injections, 9 out of 11 knees achieved extension within 10; of neutral position, and 8 of the 11 maintained this improved range of motion by a mean follow-up of 36 months. There were two failures in patients who had a revision knee arthroplasty, suggesting that this treatment is more effective in patients following primary cases. Based on these results, botulinum toxin type A should be considered as a potential treatment modality, especially in difficult-to-treat cases of knee flexion contracture that are recalcitrant to standard therapy.
Article
Pain after hip replacement is one of the most common problems during rehabilitation and is often the main obstacle in rehabilitation, even though it can often be controlled by localized cryotherapy and/or administration of analgesics. However, patients with positive anamnesis for hip arthritis and long-lasting pain may report persistence of symptoms for months after surgical intervention; often, in these patients, contractures and muscle retraction in the pelvic region are observed. The present study reports the case of a female patient who suffered from complications after total hip replacement (THR) for osteoarthritis. Due to severe pain in the gluteal region not responding to standard treatments the patient was unable to stand in an upright position or walk, so she was forced to stop the rehabilitation program. Treatment by injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in the gluteus maximus muscle brought about the complete resolution of pain and functional recovery. The follow-up visits, carried out after 6 and 16 months, confirmed the complete healing of the patient. BTX-A has been shown to be effective in the treatment of painful localized contractures even in the absence of neurological lesions. Therefore, BTX-A could be a feasible option to treat painful localized contractures that do not respond to standard treatments. Further investigations are suggested to better identify appropriate dosages and the best inoculation schedule.
Article
Botulinum neurotoxins are among the most potent toxins found in nature, and are produced by Clostridium botulinum , an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming rod-shaped bacterium1. There are seven known serotypes of botulinum neurotoxins (termed A, B, C1, D, E, F, G) that cleave soluble N-ethyl-maleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) proteins, preventing effective release of neurotransmitters across specialized synaptic junctions. Blocking SNARE protein function within neuromuscular junctions produces flaccid paralysis, results in anhidrosis within sweat glands, and increases nutritional blood flow in vascular beds. On the basis of these findings, it was hypothesized that controlled injections of botulinum neurotoxins could be used to treat neuromuscular disorders. The benefits of botulinum neurotoxin injections in the treatment of various neurological disorders have captured the attention of physicians from multiple specialties and have contributed to the widespread use of botulinum neurotoxins in modern medicine2. Currently, only botulinum neurotoxin type-A (BoNT-A) and B (BoNT-B) serotypes are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The mandated labeling includes the following therapeutic and anesthetic indications: (1) treatment of cervical dystonia in adults; (2) treatment of strabismus and blepharospasm associated with dystonia, including benign essential blepharospasm or seventh cranial nerve disorders in patients who are twelve years of age or older; (3) treatment of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis; and (4) treatment of severe glabellar lines associated with corrugator and/or procerus muscle activity in patients who are sixty-five years of age or younger. This article outlines the role of botulinum toxins, particularly type A, as a therapeutic modality in musculoskeletal conditions on the basis of the peer-reviewed literature and the personal experience of the authors. Some of the information presented in this article describes off-label indications for drugs as defined by the Food and Drug Administration. The doses, side effects, techniques, and information reflect the …
Article
Slow soleus muscle in guinea pig developed within 4--6 days after local injection of a sublethal dose of tetanus toxin and 2--4 days after the first signs of local tetanus, a myostatic contracture characterized by a change in the passive tension--lengthening curve associated with a considerable decrease of the sarcomere number. It was demonstrated by clinical and EMG investigations that the soleus did have a tetanic spasm at least within the 2--4 day period of observation. When local tetanus was confined to slow soleus by functional suppression of rapid gastrocnemius and ankle flexor muscles, the decrease of the sarcomere number still persisted. This decrease failed to occur after section of the nerve supplying the soleus when associated with an injection of the tetanus toxin, and was much greater than when the soleus was passively shortened for the same period of time by plaster cast.
Article
The relationship of 11 measures of trunk and lower limb flexibility to the economy of treadmill walking and jogging as measured by steady-state oxygen consumption (VO2) was studied. Subjects (38 women, 62 men, aged 20-62 years) were tested at six speeds between 53.6 and 187.7 m/min. By combining scores from all flexibility tests, and beginning at speeds of 107.3 m/min, the "tightest" third used significantly less O2/m/kg (9%, p less than 0.05) than the "loosest" third, with "normals" in between. Two tests, trunk rotation and lower limb turnout, gave the best separation for walking/jogging economy, with the "tightest" third differing significantly from the "loosest" (8-12%) at all speeds tested (ANOVA with Scheffe). We conclude that nonpathological musculoskeletal tightness was associated with a decreased steady-state VO2 for treadmill walking and jogging.