Correlation between Pathological Characteristics and Young's Modulus Value of Spastic Gastrocnemius in a Spinal Cord Injury Rat Model.

The goal of the present study were (1) to investigate the pathological characteristics of gastrocnemius muscle (GM) and quantitatively assess GM tissue stiffness in rat models with spinal cord injury (SCI) and (2) to explore the correlation between pathological characteristics changes and Young's modulus value of GM. 24 Sprague Dawley male rats were allocated into normal control groups and SCI model subgroups, respectively. GM stiffness was assessed with shear wave sonoelastography technology. All GMs were further analyzed by pathological examinations. GM weights were decreased, the ratio of type I fibers was decreased, and the ratio of type II fibers was increased in the GM in the model group. MyHC-I was decreased, while MyHC-II was increased according to the electrophoretic analysis in model subgroups. The elastic modulus value of GM was increased in the model group. A significant negative correlation was found between Young's modulus value of GM and the ratio of type I fibers of GM in model subgroup. Our studies showed that the stiffness of GM is correlated with pathological characteristics during the initial stages of SCI in rats. We also identified shear wave sonoelastography technology as a useful tool to assess GM stiffness in SCI rat models.

Evaluation of clinical outcomes of patients with post-stroke wrist and finger spasticity after ultrasonography-guided BTX-A injection and rehabilitation training.

OBJECTIVE: Using ultrasonography (US) to guide botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection in patients with post-stroke wrist and finger flexor muscle spasticity and assessing clinical outcomes after the injection and rehabilitation intervention. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with wrist and finger spasticity after stroke were recruited in this study from May 2012 to May 2013. Under US guidance, the proper dose (250 U) of BTX-A was injected into each spastic muscle at two injection sites. Then, conventional rehabilitation training started next day after BTX-A injection. The degree of spasticity was assessed by modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and wrist and finger motor function by active rang of movement (AROM), and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) at the baseline, 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks after BTX-A injection. RESULTS: Significant decreases (p < 0.02) in the MAS scores of both the finger flexor muscle tone and wrist flexor muscle tone measured at 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after the BTX-A injection were found in comparison with the baseline scores. Compared with the baseline, the AROM values of the wrist and finger extensions and the FMA scores of the wrist and hand significantly increased (p < 0.02) at 2, 4 and 12 weeks after the BTX-A injection. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided BTX-A injection combined with rehabilitation exercise decrease spasticity of the wrist and finger flexor muscles and improve their motor function in stroke patients up to 12 weeks following BTX-A injection.

[Clinical effect of ultrasound combined with anatomy-measure guidance botulinum toxin type A injection in poststroke patients with spasticity].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacies of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection under ultrasonic guidance and body surface positioning in poststroke patients with lower extremities spasticity. METHODS: From January 2009 to January 2011, a total of 18 patients with stroke-related spasticity in lower extremities were recruited at Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Under the guide of color Doppler ultrasound and body surface positioning, BTX-A was injected into multi-points of muscles. The outcome after BTX-A injection was assessed by modified Ashworth scale (MAS), passive range of movement (PROM), 10-meter walking test (10 MWT) and Berg balance scale (BBS). Assessments were performed at baseline, Day 3, Weeks 1, 2, 4 and 12 post-injection respectively. RESULTS: Compared the scores of MAS (MAS(pre-treatment) 2.6 ± 0.5, MAS(post-treatment) 1.9 ± 0.2 - 1.1 ± 0.3 score), PROM (PROM(pre-treatment) 7.2 ± 2.4°, PROM(post-treatment) 12.3 ± 2.0 - 18.6 ± 2.2°) between baseline and follow-up at Weeks 1, 2, 4 and 12 post-treatment, there were significant statistical differences (P < 0.05).10 MW (10 MWT(pre-treatment) 55.1 ± 5.2 s, 10 MWT(post-treatment) 48.6 ± 4.2 - 42.9 ± 3.8 s) and BBS (BBS(pre-treatment) 34.7 ± 5.1, BBS(post-treatment) 39.9 ± 4.9 - 45.8 ± 2.1 score) improved greatly at Weeks 2, 4 and 12 post-treatment. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic guidance and body surface positioning is an accurate positioning modality of using BTX-A for treating the spasticity of lower extremities.