Objective: To compare the efficacy of the innervation zone-targeted injection technique (EUROMUSCULUS/USPRM (Ultrasound Study Group of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine) spasticity approach) and the injection technique along the muscle length.
Design: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Department of rehabilitation medicine of a medical center.
Participants: One hundred patients with stroke experiencing ankle plantar flexor spasticity.
Interventions: In addition to conventional rehabilitation, eligible patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The experimental group was injected with botulinum toxin along the length of the muscle, whereas the control group was injected with the same dose and volume of botulinum toxin 25%-35% proximal to the medial head and 20%-30% proximal to the lateral aspect of the head of the gastrocnemius muscle.
Main outcome measures: Modified Ashworth scale, modified Tardieu scale, ankle range of motion measurement, and 10-meter walk test were used before and 1 month after injection.
Results: The study was completed by 60 participants with a mean age of 59.96±12.15 years. Both injection methods were found to be effective on range of motion, spasticity level, ambulation, and walking speed. There was no statistically significant difference between injection methods.
Conclusions: Both injection methods of botulinum toxin A produce similar clinical effects.
Objective: To evaluate Veterans' engagement in spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D) specialty annual evaluations (AEs).
Design: Cross-sectional retrospective cohort study.
Setting: SCI/D System of Care, United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Participants: Veterans with SCI/Ds (N=14,662).
Interventions: Not applicable.
Main outcome measures: Receiving SCI/D AEs during the study period (fiscal years [FY] 2019 and 2020).
Results: A total of 14,662 Veterans with SCI/Ds were included in the sample; 32.8% (n=4811) received 2 AEs, 28.8% (n=4219) received 1 AE, and 38.4% (n=5632) received no AEs, with an average of 0.9 AEs per Veteran over the 2-year study timeframe (range, 0-2y). Black Veterans had an 8% higher number of AEs than White Veterans after adjusting for other variables (adjusted relative risk [RR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.12). Veterans who lived ≥240 minutes away from a VA SCI/D System of Care Center had 45% fewer AEs than Veterans who lived within 30 minutes (adjusted RR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.52-0.59). Veterans with more SCI/D specialty visits had 90% more AEs than those with fewer visits (adjusted RR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.78-2.03), whereas Veterans with more outpatient visits in VA primary care had 28% fewer AEs (adjusted RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.69-0.76). Veterans with higher comorbidity scores had 9% more AEs than Veterans with lower scores (adjusted RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.61-0.70).
Conclusions: More than half (62%) of Veterans received ≥1 SCI/D AE during FY19-20. Veterans living closer to a VA SCI/D System of Care Center/Hub had more engagement in SCI/D AEs. Veterans with SCI/Ds who used VA primary care outside of the SCI/D System of Care had fewer AEs. There were no major racial, age-based, or sex disparities in SCI/D AE usage. Our findings suggest the need for targeted intervention efforts to promote AE use among Veterans.