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Comparison Between Palpatory and Ultrasound-guided Methods for Botulinum Toxin Administration in Spastic Paraplegia

NCT07803276 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE4 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-09-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Spasticity in spastic paraplegia is a major cause of chronic pain and functional limitation. Although botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) reduces muscle tone, studies like the SPASTOX trial have shown limited functional improvement, which may be related to injection accuracy in deep or complex muscle groups. Ultrasound guidance enhances injection precision, potentially improving clinical outcomes. This prospective, single-group, fixed-sequence crossover study ($N = 40$) aims to compare the response to BoNT-A in patients with spastic paraplegia (all etiologies included). Participants will receive treatment in two distinct phases separated by a 16-week washout period: first with conventional anatomical landmark-guided injections, followed by ultrasound-guided injections. A fixed sequence (anatomical first, ultrasound second) is used to prevent observer bias, ensuring the injector remains blinded to muscle ultrasound features (e.g., fatty infiltration or fibrosis) during the landmark-guided phase. Both the participants and the outcome assessor are blinded to the application sequence. Assessments will occur before and 4 weeks after each intervention using validated tools, including the Modified Ashworth Scale, Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, modified Barthel Index, SF-36 questionnaire, and the Heckmatt scale. The hypothesis is that ultrasound-guided injections will achieve greater spasticity reduction and functional recovery.

Conditions

  • Spastic Paraplegia

Interventions

DRUG

AbobotulinumtoxinA - Ultrasound-Guided Technique

Administration of AbobotulinumtoxinA (500U) into spastic lower limb target muscles under real-time ultrasound guidance to ensure precise muscle localization. Performed 16 weeks after the first intervention. Assessments are performed pre-injection and 4 weeks post-injection

DRUG

AbobotulinumtoxinA - Conventional Technique

Administration of AbobotulinumtoxinA (500U) into spastic lower limb target muscles using standard anatomical landmarks and manual palpation. Assessments are performed at baseline and 4 weeks post-injection.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Universidade Federal Fluminense

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-04-22
Primary Completion
2027-02-28
Completion
2027-05-31

Countries

  • Brazil

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07803276 on ClinicalTrials.gov