Consensus recommendations for botulinum toxin injections in the spasticitymanagement of children with cerebral palsy during COVID-19 outbreak

Authors

EBRU YILMAZ YALÇINKAYA
NAİME EVRİM KARADAĞ SAYGI
ÖZDEN ÖZYEMİŞCİ TAŞKIRAN
NALAN ÇAPAN
ŞEHİM KUTLAY
BİRKAN SONEL TUR
ÖZLEM EL
ECE ÜNLÜ AKYÜZ
SÜDA TEKİN
DEMET OFLUOĞLU
MURAT ZİNNUROĞLU
PINAR AKPINAR
TUĞÇE ÖZEKLİ MISIRLIOĞLU
BERRİN HÜNER
AHMET HAKAN NUR

DOI

10.3906/sag-2009-5

Abstract

Spasticity is the most common motor disturbance in cerebral palsy (CP). Lockdown in the COVID-19 outbreak has profoundly changed daily routines, and similarly caused the suspension of spasticity treatment plans. Besides, the delay in botulinum toxin (BoNT) injection, which is important in the management of focal spasticity, led to some problems in children. This consensus report includes BoNT injection recommendations in the management of spasticity during the COVID-19 pandemic in children with CP. In order to develop the consensus report, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) specialists experienced in the field of pediatric rehabilitation and BoNT injections were invited by Pediatric Rehabilitation Association. Items were prepared and adapted to the Delphi technique by PMR specialists. Then they were asked to the physicians experienced in BoNT injections (PMR specialist, pediatric orthopedists, and pediatric neurologists) or COVID-19 (pediatric infectious disease, adult infectious disease). In conclusion, the experts agree that conservative management approaches for spasticity may be the initial steps before BoNT injections. BoNT injections can be administered to children with CP with appropriate indications and with necessary precautions during the pandemic.

Keywords

Botulinum toxin, cerebral palsy, COVID-19, pandemic, spasticity

First Page

385

Last Page

392

Recommended Citation

YALÇINKAYA, EBRU YILMAZ; SAYGI, NAİME EVRİM KARADAĞ; TAŞKIRAN, ÖZDEN ÖZYEMİŞCİ; ÇAPAN, NALAN; KUTLAY, ŞEHİM; TUR, BİRKAN SONEL; EL, ÖZLEM; AKYÜZ, ECE ÜNLÜ; TEKİN, SÜDA; OFLUOĞLU, DEMET; ZİNNUROĞLU, MURAT; AKPINAR, PINAR; MISIRLIOĞLU, TUĞÇE ÖZEKLİ; HÜNER, BERRİN; and NUR, AHMET HAKAN (2021) "Consensus recommendations for botulinum toxin injections in the spasticitymanagement of children with cerebral palsy during COVID-19 outbreak," Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences: Vol. 51: No. 2, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3906/sag-2009-5
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/vol51/iss2/1