title: Intramuscular neurolysis with alcohol to treat post-stroke finger flexor spasticity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of intramuscular neurolysis with alcohol for the treatment of finger flexor spasticity in individuals with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic of a tertiary rehabilitation facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with a mean age of 60.2 years and post-stroke duration of 8.3 months with finger flexor spasticity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intramuscular neurolysis or motor point blocks of the finger flexors of the hemiplegic upper extremity with 50% ethyl alcohol.
  
  
  METHODS
  The severity of spasticity as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the passive range of motion of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the second to fifth digits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean baseline MAS score was 4.0 +/- 0.5 and this improved to 2.0 +/- 0.6, 2.2 +/- 0.6 and 2.6 +/- 0.6 at four weeks, three months and six months post neurolysis respectively. The gains in range of motion were 18.5 +/- 6.7, 17.5 +/- 6.4 and 14.9 +/- 4.8 degrees at four weeks, three months and six months post neurolysis respectively. These improvements were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Two subjects developed temporary dysesthetic pain of the forearm and palm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intramuscular neurolysis with alcohol provides good relief of finger flexor spasticity in hemiplegic individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: K S G
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chua
mesh_terms: D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D005385:Fingers; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009407:Nerve Block; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol