Intramuscular neurolysis with alcohol to treat post-stroke finger flexor spasticity

• Published in: Clinical rehabilitation Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 378 - 381
• Main Authors: KONG, K. H, CHUA, K. S. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Letchworth Turpin 01.06.2002; Bristol Arnold; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the nervous system; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Female; Finger Joint - physiopathology; Fingers; Hemiplegia - etiology; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Muscle Spasticity - physiopathology; Muscle Spasticity - therapy; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Nerve Block; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Range of Motion, Articular; Stroke - complications; Human; Nervous system diseases; Stroke; Spasticity; Cardiovascular disease; Muscle tonus alteration; Alcohol; Flexor digitorum muscle; Intramuscular administration; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Neurolysis; Striated muscle disease; Treatment; Central nervous system disease; Rehabilitation; Neurological disorder; Cerebrovascular disease
• ISSN: 0269-2155; 1477-0873
• DOI: 10.1191/0269215502cr508oa

To evaluate the effectiveness of intramuscular neurolysis with alcohol for the treatment of finger flexor spasticity in individuals with stroke. Case series. Outpatient clinic of a tertiary rehabilitation facility. Thirty patients with a mean age of 60.2 years and post-stroke duration of 8.3 months with finger flexor spasticity. Intramuscular neurolysis or motor point blocks of the finger flexors of the hemiplegic upper extremity with 50% ethyl alcohol. 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. 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. Intramuscular neurolysis with alcohol provides good relief of finger flexor spasticity in hemiplegic individuals.