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Upper limb international spasticity study: rationale and protocol for a large, international, multicentre prospective cohort study investigating management and goal attainment following treatment with botulinum toxin A in real-life clinical practice.

ABSTRACT: This article provides an overview of the Upper Limb International Spasticity (ULIS) programme, which aims to develop a common core dataset for evaluation of real-life practice and outcomes in the treatment of upper-limb spasticity with botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A). Here we present the study protocol for ULIS-II, a large, international cohort study, to describe the rationale and steps to ensure the validity of goal attainment scaling (GAS) as the primary outcome measure. METHODS AND ANALYSIS DESIGN: An international, multicentre, observational, prospective, before-and-after study, conducted at 84 centres in 22 countries across three continents.468 adults presenting with poststroke upper limb spasticity in whom a decision had already been made to inject BoNT-A (5-12 consecutive participants recruited per centre).Physicians were free to choose targeted muscles, BoNT-A preparation, injected doses/technique and timing of follow-up in accordance with their usual practice and the goals for treatment.GAS.Measurements of spasticity, standardised outcome measures and global benefits. Steps to ensure validity included: (1) targeted training of all investigators in the use of GAS; (2) within-study validation of goal statements and (3) establishment of an electronic case report form with an in-built tracking facility for separation of baseline/follow-up data.Efficacy population: all participants who had (1) BoNT-A injection and (2) subsequent assessment of GAS. Primary efficacy variable: percentage (95% CI) achievement of the primary goal from GAS following one BoNT-A injection cycle.This non-interventional study is conducted in compliance with guidelines for good pharmacoepidemiology practices. Appropriate ethical approvals were obtained according to local regulations. ULIS-II will provide important information regarding treatment and outcomes from BoNT-A in real-life upper limb spasticity management. The results will be published separately.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01020500.

SUBMITTER: Turner-Stokes L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3612778 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Upper limb international spasticity study: rationale and protocol for a large, international, multicentre prospective cohort study investigating management and goal attainment following treatment with botulinum toxin A in real-life clinical practice.

Turner-Stokes Lynne L Fheodoroff Klemens K Jacinto Jorge J Maisonobe Pascal P Zakine Benjamin B

BMJ open 20130318 3

<h4>Objectives</h4>This article provides an overview of the Upper Limb International Spasticity (ULIS) programme, which aims to develop a common core dataset for evaluation of real-life practice and outcomes in the treatment of upper-limb spasticity with botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A). Here we present the study protocol for ULIS-II, a large, international cohort study, to describe the rationale and steps to ensure the validity of goal attainment scaling (GAS) as the primary outcome measure. METHODS ...[more]

PMID: 23512837

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Project description:OBJECTIVES:Describe the rationale and protocol for the Upper Limb International Spasticity (ULIS)-III study, which aims to evaluate the impact of integrated spasticity management, involving multiple botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection cycles and concomitant therapies, on patient-centred goal attainment. Outline novel outcome assessment methods for ULIS-III and report initial evaluation data from goal setting in early stages of the study. DESIGN:Large international longitudinal cohort study of integrated upper limb spasticity management, including BoNT-A. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING:ULIS-III is a 2-year study expected to enrol >1000 participants at 58 study centres across 14 countries. INTERVENTIONS:The study design is non-interventional and intended to reflect real-life clinical practice. It will describe injection practices and additional treatment strategies, and record clinical decision-making in a serial approach to long-term spasticity management. OUTCOME MEASURES:ULIS-III will use a goal-directed approach to selection of targeted standardised measures to capture the diversity of presentation, goals and outcomes. ULIS-III will implement the Upper Limb Spasticity Index, a battery of assessments including a structured approach to goal attainment scaling (Goal Attainment Scaling-Evaluation of Outcomes for Upper Limb Spasticity tool), alongside a limited set of standardised measures, chosen according to patients' selected goal areas. Concomitant therapy inputs, patient satisfaction with engagement in goal setting, health economic end points and health-related quality of life data will also be captured. RESULTS OF INITIAL EVALUATION OF GOAL QUALITY:Recruitment started in January 2015. By June 2015, 58 sites had been identified and initial data collected for 79 patients across 13 sites in 3 countries. Goal setting data were quality-checked and centres rated on the basis of function-related and Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timed (SMART) characteristics of goal statements. Overall, 11/13 centres achieved the highest rating (A++). CONCLUSIONS:ULIS-III will provide valuable information regarding treatment of and outcomes from real-life upper limb spasticity management worldwide. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:NCT02454803; Pre-results.

Project description:ObjectivesThe therapeutic effects of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) are well documented in upper limb spasticity. However, several factors may influence treatment efficacy, including targeting of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). We examined whether NMJ-targeted BoNT injections were non-inferior, in terms of efficacy, to current injection practices.DesignOpen-label prospective evaluator-blinded study.SettingConducted across 20 medical centres in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden (24 September 2012 to 11 March 2015).ParticipantsAged ˃18 years with upper limb spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] score of 2 or 3) following stroke or traumatic brain injury, had received ≥2 consecutive BoNT-A treatment cycles (the latest of which was abobotulinumtoxinA [aboBoNT-A]) and needed BoNT-A retreatment (same modality as previous cycle). Patients requiring aboBoNT-A doses >800units were excluded. In total, 88 patients were randomised (intention-to-treat [ITT] population), most were male (n=58/88, 65.9%) and 54/88 (61.4%) completed the study (per protocol [PP] population).InterventionsRandomisation (1:1) to receive a single dose of aboBoNT-A (≤800 U) according to either current clinical practice (300 U/mL) or as an NMJ-targeted injection (100 U/mL).Primary outcome measureProportion of patients with a ≥1 level reduction from baseline in MAS score at week 4 post-injection (responders).ResultsIn the ITT population, the proportion of responders at elbow flexors was 72.7% in the current practice group and 56.8% in the NMJ-targeted group (adjusted difference -0.1673 [95% CIs: -0.3630 to 0.0284]; p=0.0986). Similar results were observed in the PP population (69.0% vs 68.0%, respectively, adjusted difference 0.0707 [-0.1948 to 0.3362]; p=0.6052).ConclusionsOwing to the limited number of participants, non-inferiority of NMJ-targeted injections could not be determined. However, there was no statistical difference between groups. Larger studies are needed confirm whether the two techniques offer comparable efficacy.Trial registration numberNCT01682148.

Project description:Ultrasound (US)-guided botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections are becoming a mainstay in the treatment of muscle spasticity in upper motor neuron syndromes. As a result, there has been a commensurate increase in US-guided BoNT injection for spasticity training courses. However, many of these courses do not emphasize the importance of ergonomics. This paper aims to highlight the importance of ultrasound ergonomics and presents ergonomic recommendations to optimize US-guided BoNT injection techniques in spasticity management. Expert consensus opinion of 11 physicians (4 different continents; representing 8 countries, with an average of 12.6 years of practice using US guidance for BoNT chemodenervation (range 3 to 22 years)). A search using PubMed, College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia database, EMbase was conducted and found no publications relating the importance of ergonomics in US-guided chemodenervation. Therefore, recommendations and consensus discussions were generated from the distribution of a 20-question survey to a panel of 11 ultrasound experts. All 11 surveyed physicians considered ergonomics to be important in reducing physician injury. There was complete agreement that physician positioning was important; 91% agreement that patient positioning was important; and 82% that ultrasound machine positioning was important. Factors that did not reach our 80% threshold for consensus were further discussed. Four categories were identified as being important when implementing ultrasound ergonomics for BoNT chemodenervation for spasticity; workstation, physician, patient and visual ergonomics. Optimizing ergonomics is paramount when performing US-guided BoNT chemodenervation for spasticity management. This includes proper preparation of the workspace and allowing for sufficient pre-injection time to optimally position both the patient and the physician. Lack of awareness of ergonomics for US-guided BoNT chemodenervation for spasticity may lead to suboptimal patient outcomes, increase work-related injuries, and patient discomfort. We propose key elements for optimal positioning of physicians and patients, as well as the optimal setup of the workspace and provide clinical pearls in visual identification of spastic muscles for chemodenervation.

Dataset Information

Upper limb international spasticity study: rationale and protocol for a large, international, multicentre prospective cohort study investigating management and goal attainment following treatment with botulinum toxin A in real-life clinical practice.

Publications

Upper limb international spasticity study: rationale and protocol for a large, international, multicentre prospective cohort study investigating management and goal attainment following treatment with botulinum toxin A in real-life clinical practice.

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