Etiologic workup is important for patients with spinal cord infarction to direct specific treatment strategies. Physical exertion may act as a trigger for infarction in patients at risk for thrombotic events, and monitoring of neurologic status during and after periods of exercise is warranted.
BACKGROUND
Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare inherited disease characterized by progressive motor symptoms including muscle weakness, joint contracture, ataxia, and spasticity. Botulinum neurotoxin type A has been used for conditions such as dystonia and spasticity, but it has rarely been used in patients with CS.
CASE SUMMARY
We report a 6-year-and-9-mo old girl diagnosed with CS who received an injection of botulinum neurotoxin type A to manage her difficulty with walking. A total dose of 210 units of botulinum neurotoxin type A was administered into the bilateral tibialis posterior and gastrocnemius muscles. To evaluate the treatment effects on spasticity, joint contracture, pain, and ataxia, measurement tools including the Modified Ashworth Scale, the passive range of motion, the Faces Pain Scale-Revised, and the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia, were employed. The first week after the injection, the Modified Ashworth Scale score for the plantar flexors and foot invertors improved bilaterally, along with advancements in the passive range of motion of the bilateral ankles and a lower score for the Faces Pain Scale-Revised. These treatment effects persisted to the 8
th
week post-injection, but returned to baseline values at the 12
th
week post-injection, except for the pain scale.
CONCLUSION
Botulinum toxin injection can thus be considered as a treatment option for lower extremity spasticity, joint contracture, and pain derived from CS.
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