Treatment of spasticity in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness

Spasticity is a kind of dyskinesia that often occurs after central nervous system injury. The reason for its occurrence is caused by lack of control and recombination of pyramidal system and extrapyramidal nerve fibers, and often leads to increased tension and hyperreflexia of affected muscle groups. For patients with chronic disorders of consciousness (DoC) after brain injury, the occurrence of such symptoms is very common, but effective treatment is rarely reported. The current treatment mainly includes intrathecal injection of baclofen and soft splint to solve joint contracture. Other therapeutic schemes still need further research, including acupuncture, botulinum toxin injection, and deep brain electrical stimulation. This article is summarized as follows. Key words: Disorders of consciousness; Spasticity; Pain; Prevalence rate; Treatment