Delayed series casting after botulinum toxin injection is more effective for equinus children with spastic cerebral palsy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the efficacy of series casting with different timings after botulinum toxin injection among equinus children with spastic cerebral palsy.Methods:Sixty-three equinus children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. After being injected with botulinum toxin type A, 4 weeks of series casting was applied immediately in the control group, while in the experimental group it was applied 2 weeks later. Both groups were given basic rehabilitation therapy including heel walking, kicking balls, single-leg standing, standing platform training and balance training. The modified Tardieu scale, three-dimensional gait analysis, gross motor function measure 88 (GMFM-88) and a self-made questionnaire were used to evaluate muscle tone, spasticity, gait parameters, standing and walking before the treatment and 2 and 6 months afterward.Results:Immediately after the treatment there was a significant improvement in both groups′ average MTS scores (R1, R2, R1-R2 with knee extension and flexion), dorsiflexion at initial contact, peak dorsiflexion in the stance and swing phases, and dimension D (standing), and also in their average GMFM-88 (walking) scores. Two and six months later the experimental group′s average MTS scores, peak dorsiflexion in the stance phase, and dimension D (standing) score in the GMFM-88 (walking) had improved significantly compared with the control group′s averages. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in any of the other measurements after the treatment.Conclusion:Delaying series casting after botulinum toxin A injection can significantly reduce tone and spasticity in the plantarflexors, improve the range of motion and functioning of the ankle, and alleviate the discomfort and pain caused by series casting.