Botulinum toxin treatment practice recommendations for movement disorders clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background: Due to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, non-emergency services like botulinum toxin A (BoNT) injections were temporarily discontinued.Objective: We aimed to create standard practices that optimize the management of patients needing BoNT injections while ensuring both patients' and healthcare professionals' safety.Methods: We evaluated published guidelines and best practices to determine their applicability for BoNT injection during this pandemic. We then devised a decision tree algorithm for use in our hospital.Results: A decision tree algorithm has been formulated based on patient evaluation and risk stratification, triaging, the urgency of the procedure, and proper precautions on personal protective wear as appropriate for the procedure's risk stratification.Conclusion: The algorithm is in place to ensure the safety of both the patient and healthcare professional. It can be adopted and revised by other centers to suit their clinic needs.