Introduction Spasticity is a common secondary complication after injuries to the central nervous system (CNS), and reported in 30% of patients with stroke, 60% of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and 80% of patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Spasticity can negatively affect the ability to perform activities. Spasticity affecting the hand is particularly debilitating because it prevents prehension and grasp, which are critical factors for the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently. Spasticity is described as one of the prominent secondary conditions in individuals with various disabilities. Previous reviews and studies highlight that future research should focus on improving spasticity management. There is a variation of available treatment options for management of spasticity. Hence, there is conflicting evidence regarding the effectiveness of available spasticity treatments. In many countries, Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injection is considered the gold-standard treatment for focal spasticity. Weak study design and lack of comparative studies between surgery and BoNT holds as reasons why BoNT has displaced surgery. In a recent review of management options for focal spasticity, surgery in the adult population was only recommended in four of thirteen papers. The underutilization of upper limb (UL) surgery has been questioned by surgeons who consider it to be a missed opportunity, especially considering the promising long-lasting results. There is a lack of studies evaluating the effectiveness of alternative treatment approaches for adult patients with UL spasticity after CNS injuries in comparison to the BoNT injections.
Background and rationale Spasticity is a heterogeneous neurological disorder. Treatment goals therefore varies greatly and makes regimen-specific rehabilitation beneficial. The surgical algorithm used at Centre of Advanced Reconstruction of Extremities (C.A.R.E), at Sahlgrenska University hospital (SU) stratifies patients into three different regimens depending on their degree of residual motor function (non-, low-, or high-functioning regimen NFR, LFR, HFR). The rationale for this is that the choice of intervention should be based on whether beneficial gains could be expected after surgery. The algorithm has been presented in detail previously. When comparing outcomes from different treatments the heterogeneity of the population must be considered. The difference between the groups can be caused by selection bias or differences in unobservable characteristics between groups. To investigate whether the outcome differ depending on patient characteristics and assess which of the two treatments; BoNT injection and spasticity-correcting surgery is the most effective in the long term, this study with a paired study design was designed.
Study design and objectives This open-label, non-randomized, experimental paired study aims to investigate the effectiveness of spasticity-correcting UL surgery vs BoNT injections with respect on body function, activity and participation in patients with UL spasticity.
Methods Sample size calculations are based on parameters that have been previously obtained for the primary outcome measure, i.e Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). MAS showed an average improvement of 1.3 units (SD: 0.7) for surgery, and 0.6 units (SD: 0.5) for treatment with BoNT (11, 14). Assuming a significance level of 0.05, 80% power, SD = 0.7, and an average correlation between repeated measures within patients of 0.5 yields a sample size of 10 patients, or 30 patients as the analyses will be done independently in each of the three regimens.
Study design and participants All patients with ongoing BoNT treatment who get referral to C.A.R.E the hand surgery unit at SU and seem eligible for the study will be informed about the study and enrolment procedure. All individuals who express interest in partaking, will undergo a screening procedure by the Primary Investigator of the study to assess whether they meet the study's eligibility criteria. Study participants will first receive treatment A: BoNT injections in spastic UL muscles. The dosage and number of injected muscles depend on the degree and extent of spasticity and decided by the treating team. To rule out carryover effects earliest three months after the BoNT injections participants receive treatment B. To further rule out the existence of carryover effects from treatment A, new baseline evaluation before treatment B will take place.
Treatment B: spasticity-correcting UL surgery. The degree of tendon lengthening, and number of lengthened muscles depend on the degree and extent of spasticity and decided by the treating team. The patients will be assessed with the same measurement pre-, 4-6 weeks and 3 months after BoNT, as well as before surgery and 6 months after surgery. Eligibility criteria: 1. 18 years or above; 2. Problematic spasticity characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes or intermittent or sustained involuntary muscle activity in the UL after stroke, TBI or SCI; 3. At least 6 months since the injury event; 4. Ongoing BoNT treatment in the UL; 5. A minimum of 3 months must have passed since the last BoNT injection; 6. At least two muscles in the hand/wrist must be considered suitable for surgical intervention; 7. Medically stable to undergo surgery; 8. No other severe UL injury's that affect the individual's functional level. The study has ethical approval Dnr:2024-05157-01. The study will be conducted in accordance with relevant ethical guidelines.
The primary outcome measure in the whole study population is spasticity measured with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The single-item MAS is measured on a six-point scale from 0 (no increase in muscle tone) to 4 (affected part rigid in flexion or extension), with an additional point allocated at 1+ (slight increase in muscle tone). For analysis purposes, the MAS scores in the treated muscles will be summed to provide a "composite spasticity score".
Treatment A: BoNT injections The BoNT treatment is part of routine care at the tonus clinics at rehabilitation medicine at SU, NU hospital group and Södra Älvsborg hospital (SÄS). All units are specialized in the care of patients with neurological injuries, mainly stroke, SCI and TBI. When injected in spastic muscles, BoNT blocks certain chemical signals from nerves, which results in temporary relaxation of muscles. Normally, the effect wear off after 3 months, and its maximum (peak) effect typically occurs after 4-6 weeks following injection. In the present study, the dosage and number of injected muscles will vary depending on the degree and extent of spasticity. All patients had previous BoNT injections, one injection circle will be followed in this study. Training is allowed directly after the injections. The injections will be given by specialized doctors, with many years of experience of BoNT injections in the study population. Following the BoNT injections, participants will receive standard rehabilitation. This will vary but commonly involve stretching, strength training of the antagonists, and in some cases splinting.
Treatment B: Surgical treatment The surgical treatment is part of routine care at C.A.R.E. the hand surgery unit SU. The spasticity-correcting procedures are performed by a stair-step incision technique followed by reattachment in the lengthened position using a side-to-side, cross-stich technique. The degree of tendon lengthening is decided by aiming for normal resting length, which are estimated at full relaxation during general anesthesia; 2-3 cm are usually sufficient. The day after surgery, wrapping and custom-made splints are fashioned, with the aim to facilitate prolonged soft tissue stretch and prevent postoperative edema. When possible, dynamic activation of the antagonist muscles of the lengthened muscles are performed the first day after surgery, as well as passive or dynamic activation of treated muscles. Active range of motion (ROM) exercises are allowed to the maximum ROM with no restrictions in lengthened muscles, or their antagonists. The rehabilitation protocol has previously been described in detail.
Statistical analysis plan Demographics and baseline characteristics will be summarized using descriptive statistics. Visual inspection of histograms and QQ-plots will be used to graphically check for approximate normality. Descriptive analyses include the graphical presentation of individual trajectories of the primary outcome measure (MAS) over time as well as box plots for the time-dependent distribution of MAS. The individual change in outcome measure after each treatment will be calculated. Mean or median values will be compared by treatment accounting for the paired design of the study, i.e. paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test for interval or ordinal data, and Mc Nemar's test for binary data. Furthermore, we will use multiple regression to determine which background factors are associated with the two treatment effects separately, and with the difference between treatment effects. Example for background factors: age, sex and regimens.
Clinical relevance The severity of spasticity can vary greatly depending on whether the spasticity is uni- or bilateral and the existence and severity of concomitant CNS syndromes may further add to the severity. The main goal of any spasticity intervention is to improve function, although the treatment potential greatly depends on the motor recovery stage of the UL. Hence, the treatment goals vary from restoring active function to improving passive function and facilitate care of the UL. Spasticity-correcting surgery is shown to produce long-term beneficial results. Today, knowledge is lacking regarding which of the two treatments BoNT injections and spasticity-correcting surgery is most effective in the long-term. Increased knowledge about advantages and disadvantages of these two treatment methods could help in the discussion of realistic expectations and occupational goal setting. Today healthcare lacks the knowledge to convey to patients, decision makers and relatives about the advantages and disadvantages of these two treatment methods, which is why research into the effectiveness of the methods is in demand. If the outcome of comparisons shows that the effect is equivalent, future patients will be able to choose the treatment that seems least demanding to the individual. If the outcome instead shows that one method is more beneficial, it will likely be offered to a greater extent in the future. If the outcome is that different functional gains are achieved with the different methods, the patient's prioritized goals are likely to be decisive for the choice of treatment. Increased knowledge will under all circumstances contribute to the selection of the best individual treatment, following a dialogue between patient and the clinicians. Ultimately, it has the potential to raise awareness of the treatment concepts, as a means to efficiently manage and treat UL spasticity. This may in turn increase the number of referrals and thereby increase the number of patients who achieve long-lasting functional and activity-based gains despite a chronic disorder. The aim in the long term is to ensure that all patients with spasticity problems are offered assessment and information about opportunities to enhance hand function.
