The Intra-articular Shoulder Injection of Botulinum Toxin A on Stroke Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term clinical effects of intra-articular shoulder injection with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in acute hemiplegic stroke patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I). METHOD: Fifty patients were assigned at random to receive intra-articular shoulder injection. The treatment groups were divided into two groups: BoNT-A group, 200 IU of BoNT-A and 2 ml of normal saline; triamcinolone acetonide (TA) group, 20 mg of triamcinolone and 2 ml of 2% lidocaine. Uptake ratio of quantitative three phase bone scintigraphy (QTPBS) was calculated by dividing the radioactivity count on the affected side by that on the unaffected side. Shoulder pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and neuropathic pain scale (NPS). Range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joint and functional independence measurement (FIM) of upper limb were evaluated. All of them were measured before injection, and 4 weeks after injection. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, the uptake ratio of blood pool phase was significantly decreased in hands of BoNT-A group than TA group. VAS, ROM and upper extremity FIM was similarly improved in both groups. Pain intensity and cold pain of NPS were similarly decreased in both groups. Hot pain and dull pain of NPS decreased more significantly in BoNT-A group than TA group. CONCLUSION: In the short-term, intra-articular BoNT-A shoulder injection maybe has the therapeutic effect on acute CRPS I related stroke. And the uptake ratio of blood pool phase of the hand of QTPBS may be useful to assess the therapeutic effect of CRPS after acute stroke.

Septated de Quervain's Disease with MRI Images: A case report

De Quervain's disease is the most common form of tenosynovitis, which causes disability in daily living and occupational activity. Anatomical variations in the first extensor compartment including separate comparment influenced the effects of treatment. A 45-year-old woman had severe pain on wrist and suffered in activity of daily living after motor vehicle accident. She had swelling and tenderness upon the radial styloid process, and more aggravated pain by Finkelstein's maneuver test. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed severe peritendinous edema within the synovial sheath, increased signal intensity within the tendons. Also, the images revealed a thickened septum between abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis. Corticosteroid was injected on both sides of the septum. We report a case of definite septum of de Quervain's disease via MRI scans.