[Peripheral nerves phenolisation in spasticity management - forgotten art or interesting perspective?]

INTRODUCTION: Spasticity is one of the most common obstacles in the process of rehabilitation after permanent central nervous system injury. Statistics show that the problem affects more than 12 billion people all over the world. Treatment of spasticity is necessary for proper rehabilitation, prevention of secondary disability, pain management and also strongly influences quality of life. Nowadays the most common formula used for the treatment of local spasticity is injection of botulinum toxin. Years ago and also nowadays physicians all over the world successfully used phenol as the chemodenervating factor. This technique today almost forgot in Poland but still used in other countries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral nerves phenolisation had been used in STOCER (Konstancin) since 1965. The procedure was performed once in 59 patients, twice in 13 patients and three times in 7 patients. Evaluation was based on clinical presentation completed with patient self evaluation form.

RESULTS: Good - 36 cases (45%), moderate - 34 cases (43%), bad - 9 cases (12%).

CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerve phenolisation seems to be an interesting alternative to botulinum toxin in the management of spasticity.