AUTHOR=Otero-Villaverde Sergio , Formigo-Couceiro Jacobo , Martin-Mourelle Rosa , Montoto-Marques Antonio 

TITLE=Safety and effectiveness of thermal radiofrequency applied to the musculocutaneous nerve for patients with spasticity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1369947

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2024.1369947

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Objective</title><p>Evaluate safety and effectiveness of thermal radiofrequency in the musculocutaneous nerve in patients with focal elbow flexor spasticity.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Design</title><p>Ambispective observational follow-up study. Patients with focal spasticity secondary to central nervous system injury with elbow flexor pattern who received thermal radiofrequency treatment in the musculocutaneous nerve between 2021 and 2023 were included.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Subjects</title><p>12 patients.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Methods</title><p>Ultrasound-guided thermal radiofrequency was applied to the musculocutaneous nerve at 80°C for 90 s. Effectiveness was assessed prior to thermal radiofrequency and at 6 months using scales to measure pain (VAS), spasticity (MAS), disability (DAS), quality of life (SQol-6D), patient-perceived and physician-perceived satisfaction (PIG-C, PGA), and goal attainment (GAS). Elbow joint range of motion was evaluated via goniometry. Safety was evaluated by assessing side effects.</p></sec><sec id="sec5"><title>Results</title><p>Patients had statistically significant improvements in spasticity (<italic>p</italic> = 0.003), severe elbow flexion (<italic>p</italic> = 0.02), pain (<italic>p</italic> = 0.046), functioning (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05), and spasticity-related quality of life (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05 in three sections). Furthermore, treatment goals were attained. Patient- and physician-perceived clinical improvement was achieved. Regarding side effects, two patients had dysesthesia that was self-limiting, with maximum duration of 1 month.</p></sec><sec id="sec6"><title>Conclusion</title><p>Thermal radiofrequency in the musculocutaneous nerve can be a safe, effective treatment for patients with severe spasticity with an elbow flexor pattern.</p></sec>