Medicinski vjesnik, Vol. 43 No. (1-4), 2011.
Original scientific paper
Treatment of spastic knee contractures with botulinum toxin and physioteraphy in patients with severe traumatic brain injury
Žarko Bakran
Martina Varjačić
Damir Plečko
Neven Ištvanović
Ivan Horvatek
Abstract
Spasm as a positive symptom of upper motor neuron damage due to severe traumatic brain injury, if not treated early after brain damage can cause contractures. This prospective study investigated the effect of physiotherapy and Botulinum toxin A in treating knee contractures in patients in whom physical therapy did not lead to reduction in contracture and reduced muscle tone. The study included 26 patients who had a contracture in one or both knees (a total of 30 knees), and in which the muscle tone and contracture of the knee have not been reduced after three months of physiotherapy. After application of Botulinum toxin A and continuing physiotherapy improvement in knee mobility and decrease in muscle spasms in muscles has been observed. The application of Botulinum toxin A and physiotherapy can significantly reduce knee contractures that were not responding to physiotherapy, thus sparing surgical treatment and improving patient activity as well as participation in daily living activities.
Keywords
Botulinum toxin A; knee contractures; spasticity; traumatic brain injury
Hrčak ID:
198002
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2011.
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