Functional outcomes of spasticity-reducing surgery and rehabilitation at 1-year follow-up in 30 patients.

The effects of spasticity-reducing surgery in the upper extremity were assessed in a prospective observational study of 30 consecutive patients with stroke ( = 13), incomplete spinal cord injury ( = 9), traumatic brain injury ( = 5), cerebral palsy ( = 2), and degenerative central nervous system disease ( = 1). Surgery, which included lengthening of tendons and release of muscles, was followed by early rehabilitation at three intensity levels depending on the patients' specific needs and conditions. At 12 months follow-up there were significant improvements in all outcome measures with the following mean values: spasticity decreased by 1.

Cortical activation changes and improved motor function in stroke patients after focal spasticity therapy--an interventional study applying repeated fMRI.

Background: Impaired dominant hand function in stroke patients is a common clinical problem. Functional improvement after focal spasticity therapy is well documented but knowledge about central correlates is sparse. Brain activity was therefore followed during therapy with repeated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Short Form 36 assessed health-related quality of life after focal spasticity therapy.

Objective: Analysis of the impact of an individualized comprehensive focal spasticity management on health-related quality of life.

Design: Prospective observational and interventional 12-week trial in a single-centre rehabilitation outpatient clinic.

Patients: Forty-one adult patients with upper motor neurone lesions (23 men), mean age 52 (standard deviation 13) years; 27 stroke, 7 cerebral palsy and 7 miscellaneous diagnoses.

Focal spasticity therapy with botulinum toxin: effects on function, activities of daily living and pain in 100 adult patients.

Objective: Analysis of the effects of a comprehensive focal spasticity program in adult patients.

Design: Retrospective study of an out-patient cohort.

Patients: One hundred patients were enrolled in the study (54 men and 46 women, mean age 41 years (SD 14).