Triceps Surae Muscle Characteristics in Spastic Hemiparetic Stroke Survivors Treated with Botulinum Toxin Type A: Clinical Implications from Ultrasonographic Evaluation

Abstract

Equinovarus foot is one of the most commonly spasticity related conditions in stroke survivors, leading to an impaired gait and poor functional performances. Notably, spastic muscles undergo a dynamic evolution following typical pathophysiological patterns. Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A (BoNT-A) is the gold standard for focal spasticity treatment, and ultrasound (US) imaging is widely recommended to guide injections and monitor muscle evolution. The role of BoNT-A in influencing muscle fibroadipose degeneration is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus (SOL) US characteristics (cross-sectional area, muscle thickness, pennation angle, and mean echo intensity) in 53 patients. MG and SOL alterations, compared to the unaffected side, depend on the spasticity only and not on the BoNT-A treatment. In functionally preserved patients (functional ambulation classification, FAC > 3; modified Ashworth scale, MAS ≤ 2), the ultrasonographic changes of MG compared to ipsilateral SOL observed in the paretic limb alone seems to be due to histological, anatomical, pathophysiological, and biomechanical differences between the two muscles. In subjects with poor walking capability and more severe spasticity, such ipsilateral difference was found in both calves. In conclusion, BoNT-A does not seem to influence muscle degeneration. Similar muscles undergo different evolution depending on the grade of walking deficit and spasticity.

Keywords: botulinum toxin; diagnostic imaging; diagnostic techniques; muscle spasticity; rehabilitation; spastic equinovarus foot; ultrasonography.

Figure 1

Ultrasound image of medial gastrocnemius in transversal section. In red: cross-sectional area (CSA).

Figure 2

Ultrasound image of medial gastrocnemius in longitudinal section. In yellow: muscle thickness (MT), in red: pennation angle (α).

Figure 3

Ultrasound image of soleus in transversal section. In red: cross-sectional area (CSA).

Figure 4

Ultrasound image of soleus in longitudinal section. In yellow: muscle thickness (MT), in red: pennation angle (α), *: myotendinous junction of medial gastrocnemius.