Treatment of spasticity

Spasticity is one of the serious clinical manifestations of damage to the central motoneuron, which occurs during ischemia, hemorrhage, trauma, inflammation, tumor or as part of neurodegenerative disorders. There are two types of spasticity - cerebral and spinal. In cerebral lesions, there is a loss of the influence of the cerebral cortex on trunk inhibitory structures, while in spinal lesions, spastic dystonia of a severe degree is present and flexor involvement predominates. A careful clinical examination of each patient is important to assess the type and degree of spasticity. A number of scales and questionnaire methods are used for this. Ashworth scale of muscle hypertonia and its modifications are most often used. The goal of spasticity treatment is to improve the function of spastic limbs, enable better independence, reduction of complications, decrease of accompanying pain, and improvement quality of life. The treatment of spasticity consists of rehabilitation, pharmacological or can be solved surgically. Individual treatment procedures are chosen according to the degree and intensity of spasticity, but it also depends on the activities and goals of the specific patient. Treatment of spasticity in most cases begins with a combination of rehabilitation and pharmacological treatment. The most often used drugs are baclofen and tizanidine, or cannabinoids. Focal spasticity can be treated by administration of botulinum toxin into spastic muscle groups. In severe diffuse spasticity, the intrathecal administration of baclofen by continuous pump systems has a very good effect. In some cases, a surgical approach to spasticity treatment (myelotomy, DREZotomy) can also be chosen. The treatment of spasticity is a long-term process and requires multidisciplinary approach.

Keywords: spasticity, pharmacotherapy, baclofen, tizanidine, botulinum toxin, intrathecal baclofen.