Download Spasticity Management

Spasticity Management in
Neurological Conditions
A Quick-Start Guide
George F. Wittenberg MD PhD
28 January 2010
Outline
• The Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome
• Spasticity Management through Oral
Medications
• Spasticity Management through Parenteral
Medications
– Botulinum Toxins
– Intrathecal Baclofen
• Emergency Management
Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome
Positive Signs
(Excessive normal resting
state)
– Spasticity
– Rigidity
– Hyperreflexia
– Primitive reflexes
– Clonus
Negative Signs
(Less than normal resting
state)
– Lack of strength
– Lack of motor control
– Lack of coordination
Young RR, Emre M, Nance PW, et al. Current issues in spasticity management. Neurologist. 1997; 3:261-275.
Young RR. Treatment of spastic paresis. N Engl J Med. June 1989;320(23):1553-1555.
Examples of UMN Lesions
– Stroke
– Multiple Sclerosis
– Corticobasal Ganglionic Degeneration
– Traumatic Brain Injury
– Acquired Brain Injury
– Spinal Cord Injury
– Cerebral Palsy
Pathophysiology of Spasticity
Spasticity: Consequences
• Pain and discomfort
• Contractures
• Increased energy cost of
movement
• Skin breakdown–shear
• Interferes with breathing
• Hampers gait and
transfers
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Interferes with hygiene
More work for caregiver
Poor safety
Sexual difficulties
Insomnia
Poor posture
Spasticity: Assessment
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Patient report
Deep tendon reflexes
Passive range of motion
Test for clonus
Functional observation
– Determine nature of hypertonicity
– Assess interference with function (gait) and effect of stress and/or
fatigue
– Assess adaptive shortening of muscles vs. irreversible contracture
• Consider aggravating factors (e.g., UTI, infection, excessive activity,
strengthening exercises)
Modified Ashworth Scale
0. No increase in muscle tone
1. (1) Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch and
release or by minimal resistance at the end of the range of
motion when the affected part(s) is moved in flexion or
extension.
2. (1+) Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch,
followed by minimal resistance throughout the reminder (less
than half) of the ROM (range of movement).
3. (2) More marked increase in muscle tone through most of the
ROM, but affected part(s) easily moved.
4. (3) Considerable increase in muscle tone passive, movement
difficult.
5. (4) Affected part(s) rigid in flexion or extension.
(Original Ashworth score in parentheses; Modified after Bohannon and
Smith Phys Ther. 1987 Feb;67(2):206-7.
Considerations in Reducing Spasticity
• Possible Advantages of Spasticity
– Maintains muscle tone/bulk
– Helps support circulatory function
– May prevent formation of deep vein blood
thrombosis
– May assist in activities of daily living
– May assist with postural control
Spasticity: Rehabilitation Intervention
• Static stretch
• Gait training (emphasis
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on swing and heel strike)
Positioning/posture
Cooling
Patient education
Relaxation
• Bio-feedback
• Reflex-inhibiting
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movement patterns
Avoiding noxious
stimuli
Medications
ITB Therapy
Botulinum Toxin
Spasticity: Medication
• Baclofen (Lioresal)
– GABA agonist
– Max. dose 180 mg daily, divided
– Side effects: sedation, incontinence, weakness,
withdrawal seizures
• Tizanidine (Zanaflex)
– Alpha2 adrenergic agonist
– Max. dose 24-32 mg daily
– Side effects: sedation, hypotension, weakness,
hepatotoxicity
• Dantrolene - reserve for specialists
• Diazepam et al. (Valium)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Considerations in Starting Oral
Medications
• Titrate slowly: increase dose every five days,
starting at:
– 5 mg baclofen qHS
– 2 mg tizanidine qHS
• Inform patients to back off to previous dose if
they encounter problems with sedation, other
expected effects.
• Effectiveness variable, often marginal
Spasticity: Invasive ℞
• Botulinum Toxins A & B
• Baclofen pump
– Intrathecal delivery via implanted pump
(ITB)
• Surgical interventions
– Tenotomy (Tendon Lengthening)
– Selective Rhizotomy
Botulinum Toxins
• Derived from Clostridium botulinum bacteria
• Multiple forms, but only A & B clinically approved
• Produce reduction in muscle overactivity from 2-200
days after injection
– Peak effect begins 7-10 days after
– Should not be reinjected before 90 days
– May eventually become ineffective due to antibodies
Injection Procedure
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
•Injected near motor points of
muscles
•Multiple injections per muscle
•Monitor with EMG (optional)
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
•Allows identification of
muscles
•Can help identify best
targets
Common Spasticity syndromes
treatable with Botulinum Toxin
• Thumb in palm – and clenched hand/flexed
wrist in general
• Elbow flexion
• Striatal/Clenched toes
• Equinovarus deformity
• Scissoring Gait
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Side Effects of Botulinum Toxins
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Systemic Botulism
Respiratory compromise
Dysphagia
Dry mouth
Muscle Pain
Weakness
Response Problems
• Poor response may be primary (with first injection) or
secondary
• Reasons for poor response
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Poor muscle injection technique
Incorrenct muscle selection
Dosing inadequate
Muscle involvement has changed
Soft tissue contracture
• Neutralizing antibodies may be present (but rare in
spasticity)
– Tests for nonresponse: frontalis test,
– antibody assays (limited sensitivity, specificity)
Dosing of Botulinum Toxin
• Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) available in 100 unit
vials of lyophilized powder
– Max dose not established, but FDA warns against dosing
more than 400 units
• MyoBloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB) units are about 50x
less potent than Botox
• So 100 units Botox are approximately equivalent to
5000 units MyoBloc
ITB Therapy
• Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy delivers liquid baclofen directly
into the intrathecal space around the spinal cord
• Drug delivered via an implanted and programmable pump
connected to a catheter
• Approved by FDA in 1992 for spinal origin spasticity and 1996
for cerebral origin spasticity.
– Components are completely implanted (except the programmer)
– Programmer is used to adjust the pump.
– Implanting the pump is the beginning of therapy, takes 30-90 days to
adjust dosage
SynchroMed II Pump
Pump Compatibility
• The following are unlikely to affect pump operation or damage
the pump:
– Electrocautery
– Diagnostic Ultrasound
– Low-Power Therapeutic Ultrasound – i.e. the type used in P.T.
– Pacemakers/ICD’s
– Diagnostic X-rays
– TENS
– Laser Procedures
– Pressurized Aircraft
– Theft detectors/Security Devices
– Home Appliances
– Tanning Bed
Advantages of ITB ℞
• Non-destructive and reversible
• Potential for fewer side effects as compared to
oral baclofen
• Dose can be adjusted to optimal effect
• May decrease spasticity-related pain
Potential Risks of ITB ℞
• Most common side effects: weakness, drowsiness,
nausea/vomiting, headache, and dizziness
• Overdose, although rare, could lead to respiratory
depression, loss of consciousness, coma, and in
extreme cases, may be life-threatening
• Infection
Potential Risks of ITB ℞
• Abrupt discontinuation can result in high fever, altered mental
status, worsened spasticity, and muscle rigidity
– needs to be treated as life threatening
• Causes:
– Empty pump reservoir
– Catheter failure: disconnecting from pump, kinking,
migrating or breaking
– Electromechanical failure, e.g. battery failure
Management Issues: Spasticity has
increased
– Patient not getting enough drug
• Low reservoir
• Programming/refill error
• Pump or catheter problem
– Factor causing increase in spasticity
• Disease progression
• Physiologic response
Management Issues: Spasticity has
decreased – hypotonia
– Patient getting too much drug
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Programming error
Refill error
Subdural catheter
Pump pocket injection
Oral medication
Management Issues: Altered Mental
Status
• Altered mental status
– Could be sign of overdose or withdrawal
• Has spasticity increased or decreased?
• Other associated symptoms
Circumstances That May Require
Added Attention
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Higher ITB Therapy doses
Non-verbal patient
Inability to identify problem/localize pain
ITB Therapy naïve medical system
– ER/ICU doesn’t contact “pump doctor”
until after cascade effect
• After pump replacement
• After pump removal for infection
Lioresal Intrathecal
• Lioresal Intrathecal is an analog to the
naturally occurring inhibitory
neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA)
– Effects similar to benzodiazepines
• SynchroMed® II pump reservoir holds 20 or 40
ml of drug
– 6-month supply
• 500 mcg/ml
• 2000 mcg/ml
Overdose
• Symptoms Are Dose-Dependent
– Mild
• Hypotonia
• Difficulty concentrating
• Progressive decrease in tone to flaccid
– Moderate
• Somnolence
• Obtundation
• Bradycardia
– Severe
• Stupor
• Hypoventilation to apnea
• Coma
Overdose
• Iatrogenic
– Likely due to human error
– Programming error
– Unanticipated effect of dosage or concentration
• SynchroMed pump vs. catheter malfunction
• Difficult to ascertain cause
Overdose – Mechanical Causes
• Subdural catheter
• Filling of pump pocket
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18 ml of Lioresal Intrathecal 500 mcg/ml=9 mg
18 ml of Lioresal Intrathecal 2000 mcg/ml=36 mg
40 ml of Lioresal Intrathecal 500 mcg/ml=20 mg
40 ml of Lioresal Intrathecal 2000 mcg/ml=80 mg
Overdose - Treatment
Suggested Treatments
• Mild
– Decrease dose
• Moderate
– Stop pump for several hours (2-4 hours)
• Program minimal infusion bolus, then restart at
lower dose
– Decrease dose
• Monitor patient carefully for at least 24 hours
Severe Overdose
Suggested Treatment
• Maintain airway/breathing/circulation
• Empty pump reservoir to stop drug flow
– Aspirate reservoir if no programmer
– Remember to schedule restart
• Administer physostigmine/pressors
– +/- physostigmine(0.5-1.0mg increments IV)
• LP to withdraw 30 – 40 mL CSF
• Notify patient's ITB Therapy physician
• Continue to monitor closely for symptom recurrence
Suggested Treatment
• Remove CSF
– An effective treatment
• Effective in first 4 hours
• Still may be effective up to 8 hours
– Catheter access port (CAP)
– 30 – 40 mL
– Lumbar puncture if cannot aspirate CAP
Sequelae of Severe Overdose
• Patient
– Less frequent if airway is protected and
hypotension treated rapidly
• Family
– Fear of patient’s death
– Fear of brain damage
– Intensive emotional support needed
Baclofen Withdrawal
• Severity of withdrawal varies
– Mild
• Minimal symptoms
• Mild flu-like syndrome
– Moderate
• Increase in tone
• Itching
• Mild dysphoria
– Severe
• Continuous spasms
• Severe pain
• Delirium
• Death
Symptoms of Underdose
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Pruritis without rash
Hypotension
Paresthesias
Fever
Altered mental status
Symptoms of Withdrawal
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Exaggerated rebound spasticity and muscle rigidity
Might be diagnosed in ER as seizures
Rhabdomyolysis
Multiple organ failure
May resemble
• Autonomic dysreflexia
• Sepsis
• Malignant hyperthermia
• Neuroleptic-malignant syndrome
Suggested Treatment
Always assume it’s the Intrathecal Baclofen
• Initiate life-sustaining measures if indicated
• Thorough history
– Abrupt vs insidious onset
– Presence of VPS
– Recent refill/replacement/programming
• Start oral baclofen
– Each patient needs prescription at home
– Remind family to take prescription on vacation
Other Interventions
– Benzodiazepines
• GABA agonists
• IV or PO
– Cyproheptadine (serotonin antagonist)*
• Cyproheptadine 4-8 mg every 6 hours
– Lioresal Intrathecal via LP
• 50-100 mcg bolus
– Lumbar infusion via bedside pump and
percutaneous catheter
• Maintenance
• Weaning ITB Therapy
*Meythaler JM, Roper JF, Brunner RC. Cyproheptadine for intrathecal baclofen
withdrawal. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003; 84:638-642.
Pearls to Prevent Withdrawal
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Refill pump if suspect low reservoir
Compare actual vs expected aspirate
Verify concentration of last refill
Systems to ensure patients receive refills in a timely
manner
• Examine programming after pump replacement
• Troubleshoot pump and catheter immediately upon
suspicion of malfunction
• Patients should have some oral baclofen available for
emergency
Conclusions
• While spasticity management can be difficult,
it may also improve patient’s quality of lift
• Spasticity is not necessarily the enemy, but is
part of a pattern of abnormal motor control
• Choice of treatment depends on pattern of
involvement
Contact
• For questions about this audio conference please contact Dr. George
Wittenberg at [email protected]
• For any questions about the monthly GRECC Audio Conference Series
please contact Tim Foley at [email protected] or call (734) 222-4328
• To evaluate this conference for CE credit please obtain a ‘Satellite
Registration’ form and a ‘Faculty Evaluation’ form from the Satellite
Coordinator at you facility. The forms must be mailed to EES within 2
weeks of the broadcast