Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34047854›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2022

Periorbital injections of botulinum toxin a: a novel therapeutic option for convergence spasm in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Kristina Hess, Moritz Schmitt, Bettina Wabbels

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Non-nystagmus hyperkinetic eye movement disorders.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
    Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Kristina HessDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Moritz SchmittDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Bettina WabbelsDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Germany. bettina.wabbels@ukbonn.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7767-114X
University of Bonn · DE

Funding

Supported by the BONFOR Gerok Grant by the University of Bonn Grant 2019-1A-13
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeConvergence spasm (CS, spasm of near reflex) is characterized by transient attacks of convergence, miosis and accommodation, often associated with functional neurological disorders. To date, no simple and efficient treatment option is available for CS. This study investigates whether periorbital botulinum toxin injections as used in essential blepharospasm are also a treatment option in these patients.

methodsAll patients with convergence spasm having been treated with periorbital BoNTA injections in the department of neuro-ophthalmology were identified. Data were extracted from patient files concerning details and subjective effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections and relation to psychiatric or neurological disorders. Patients reporting with a history of closed-head trauma or organic neurologic pathologies possibly causing CS were excluded. A telephone assessment with a standardized questionnaire was performed to evaluate mental health issues as a trigger, as well as the long-term effect and satisfaction with periorbital injections.

resultsOf 16 patients treated with periorbital botulinum toxin injections for convergence spasm, 9 patients reported depression and/or anxiety disorders ongoing or in the past. A median number of 3 injections (range 1-13) was administered with a variable effect (relief of symptoms) between no effect and effect of up to more than 12 weeks. A longitudinal follow-up revealed ongoing symptoms in five patients.

conclusionsPeriorbital botulinum toxin injections are less invasive than injections in the medial rectus muscle and can be a bridging therapeutic option in patients with CS. Mental health exploration is important due to psychiatric comorbidity.

Indexed as

BlepharospasmBotulinum Toxins, Type AHemifacial SpasmFacial MusclesHumansInjectionsOculomotor MusclesSpasmBotulinum Toxins, Type ABoNTABotulinum toxinConvergence spasmFunctional neurological disordersSpasm of the near reflex

Identifiers

PMID34047854
PMCPMC8739525
OpenAlexW3165365618

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.