Extracorporeal shock wave for plantar flexor spasticity in spinal cord injury:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Approximately 65%-78%of patients with a spinal cord injury(SCI)develop any symptom of spasticity.The aim of this study was to investigate the tolerability and short-term effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy(r ESWT)on plantar flexor spasticity in a patient with incomplete SCI.CASE SUMMARY An 18-year-old man with an incomplete SCI completed five sessions of r ESWT.The primary outcomes were the changes in ankle-passive range of motion(APROM)and passive resistive force to ankle dorsiflexion.The outcomes were assessed at baseline(T0),immediately after treatment(T1)and 1 wk after the end of treatment(T2).The A-PROM increased by 15 degrees at T1 and 25 degrees at T2 compared with T0.The passive resistive force to ankle dorsiflexion at low velocity decreased by 33%at T1 and 55%at T2 in the gastrocnemius muscle and by 41%at T1 and 39%at T2 in the soleus muscle compared with T0.At high velocity,it also decreased by 44%at T1 and 30%at T2 in the gastrocnemius muscle compared with T0.However,in the soleus muscle,the change was minor,with a decrease of 12%at T1 and increased by 39%at T2 compared with T0.CONCLUSION In this patient,the findings showed that r ESWT combined with conventional therapy was well-tolerated and could be effective in improving A-PROM and passive resistive force to ankle dorsiflexion in the short-term.Further randomized controlled clinical trials with longer period of follow-up are necessary to confirm the results obtained in patients with SCI.

Efficacy of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy compared with botulinum toxin type A injection in treatment of lower extremity spasticity in subjects with cerebral palsy: A randomized, controlled, cross-over study

Objectives To investigate whether botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection is more effective than radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy in reducing plantar flexor muscle spasticity in subjects with cerebral palsy.Methods A total of 68 subjects with cerebral palsy were randomly allocated to BTX-A injection (Group 1) or radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Group 2) (first experiment;E1). Outcome was evaluated using the Tardieu V1 and V3 stretches, at 3 weeks, 2 months (M2) and M3 after baseline. At M6 subjects in Group 1 received radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy and subjects in Group 2 received BTX-A injection (second experiment;E2);outcome was evaluated as in E1. Treatment success was defined as improvement in foot dorsiflexion ≥10° when performing the V3 stretch at M2 in both experiments.Results In both experiments mean V1 and V3 significantly improved over time. In E1 both treatments resulted in similar treatment success. In E2 fewer subjects treated with BTX-A injection reached the criteria of treatment success than did subjects treated with radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy, which was due to a carry-over effect from E1. No significant complications were observed.Conclusion BTX-A injection is not superior to radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of plantar flexor muscle spasticity in subjects with cerebral palsy.

Treatment for subtrochanteric fracture and subsequent nonunion in an adult patient with osteopetrosis:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND As a congenital metabolic bone disease caused by defective osteoclastic resorption of immature bone,osteopetrosis is characterized by diffused sclerosis of bones,brittle bones,easy fracturing,narrow medullary canals,and a weak fracture healing ability.At present,clear standards and principles for the treatment of fractures in patients with osteopetrosis are lacking.Non-operative treatment can prevent fracture hematoma and preserve the blood supply to the bone fragments,while being associated with frequent failures and higher mortality rates.Meanwhile,closed reduction and internal fixation with intramedullary nail(CRIF+IMN)approaches can also protect blood supply to the fracture site.However,IMN cannot be used for the vast majority of patients with osteopetrosis due to the narrowing of medullary canals.Thus,open reduction and internal fixation with plate remains the most appropriate surgical method for treating fractures in patients with osteopetrosis,but this approach is complicated by the lack of intramedullary hematopoiesis in such patients.Fracture healing primarily depends on the blood supply to the external periosteum.Open reduction can also easily destroy the periosteum and cause delayed fracture healing or even nonunion;however,CRIF may be the most practical approach.As a result,it would be prudent to solve the difficulty of drilling during the operation and the problem of postoperative nonunion.CASE SUMMARY In 2018,we treated an adult patient with osteopetrosis presenting with a subtrochanteric fracture.The fracture was fixed using a femoral locking compression plate.Because of delayed consolidation,at 12 mo postoperatively the patient was further treated with platelet-rich plasma(PRP)combined with radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy(rESWT).Antero-posterior and lateral radiographs obtained at the latest follow-up(10 mo)showed that the callus had grown at the original fracture site,and the medial fracture line almost disappeared.CONCLUSION Osteosynthesis remains the first choice of treatment approach for fractures in patients with osteopetrosis,especially peritrochanteric fractures.Preoperative preparation is necessary to avoid risks such as drill bit breakage and iatrogenic fracture during the operation.Moreover,fractures in a patient with osteopetrosis present with a high risk of delayed union and nonunion,which can be potentially cured with PRP+rESWT.