The effect of spasticity on cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials: changes of cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials after botulinum toxin type A injection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the changes in cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) after botulinum toxin type A injection to determine what effect spasticity has on cortical SEPs.


METHODS
Intervention study and before-after trial.


METHODS
University-affiliated hospital in Korea.


METHODS
Twelve children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP), 7 children with spastic diplegic CP, and 8 patients with traumatic brain injury.


METHODS
All participants had botulinum toxin type A injected into the muscles of the spastic limb.


METHODS
SEPs were recorded before and 7 days after the botulinum toxin type A injection. Spasticity of the affected spastic limb was also measured. The short latency and amplitude of waves in SEPs were measured. The SEP results were divided into 3 groups: flat (no evoked potential), abnormal (evoked but delayed in latency), and normal (clear waveform with normal latency).


RESULTS
The normal response of cortical SEP increased after injection. The SEPs exhibited more frequent improvement in the limbs, with greater improvement of spasticity in grade (>1.0 grade) and in patients of younger age (<3y) after injection (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The observed improvement of cortical SEPs with associated reduction of spasticity that occurred after the botulinum toxin type A injection indicates that spasticity itself can be considered a factor affecting cortical SEPs.
Park
Eun Sook
ES
Rehabilitation Department, Yonsei University College of Medicine, #120-752 Seoul, Korea.
Park
Chang Il
CI
Kim
Deog Young
DY
Kim
Yong Rae
YR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A