Effects of Botulinum Toxin-A for Spasticity and Nociceptive Pain in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ann Rehabil Med, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.240034 · Published: May 1, 2024

Spinal Cord Injury Pain Management Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates whether Botox-A can help reduce muscle stiffness (spasticity) and a specific type of pain (nociceptive pain) in people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The researchers analyzed existing studies to see how effective Botox-A is for these conditions. The research team looked at multiple databases and included studies that evaluated Botox-A's impact on spasticity and nociceptive pain in SCI patients. They combined the data from these studies to get a better understanding of Botox-A's effects. The analysis showed that Botox-A significantly reduced both spasticity and nociceptive pain in SCI patients. It also led to improvements in motor function, daily activities, and overall quality of life.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Fourteen studies

Evidence Level

Level 1 (RCTs), Level 4 (Pre-Post Studies), Level 5 (Case Reports)

Key Findings

1
Botox-A significantly decreased spasticity in SCI patients (SMD, -1.73; 95% CI, -2.51 to -0.95; p<0.0001, I2=48%).
2
Botox-A significantly reduced nociceptive pain (SMD, -1.79; 95% CI, -2.67 to -0.91; p<0.0001, I2=0%) in SCI patients.
3
Botox-A intervention improved motor function, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life.

Research Summary

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of Botox-A on spasticity and nociceptive pain in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The study included two randomized controlled trials, five pre-post studies, and seven case reports. The meta-analysis of pre-post studies showed that Botox-A significantly reduced spasticity and nociceptive pain in SCI patients. The review also found improvements in motor function, activities of daily living, and quality of life following Botox-A intervention. The study concludes that Botox-A may be a beneficial treatment for alleviating spasticity and nociceptive pain in SCI patients, and highlights the need for additional high-quality RCTs with extended follow-up periods.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Botox-A can be considered as a treatment option for managing spasticity and nociceptive pain in SCI patients.

Quality of Life Improvement

Botox-A treatment may lead to enhanced motor function, ADL, and overall quality of life in SCI patients.

Further Research

Future studies should focus on conducting more high-quality RCTs with long-term follow-up to confirm the efficacy of Botox-A in SCI and explore its impact on motor function, ADL, and QoL.

Study Limitations

1
Limited number of RCTs included in the review.
2
Variation in control groups across the included RCTs.
3
Exclusion of non-English language articles and conference abstracts, which may introduce publication bias.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury