Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41150208›Full record

ReviewToxins2025

The Elias University Hospital Approach: A Visual Guide to Ultrasound-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection in Spasticity, Part IV-Distal Lower Limb Muscles.

Marius Nicolae Popescu, Claudiu Căpeț, Cristina Popescu, Mihai Berteanu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Toxins, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
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

4 authors.

Marius Nicolae PopescuDepartment of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Elias Emergency University Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-9043-7585
Claudiu CăpețClinic of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Elias Emergency University Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0009-0009-0891-4775
Cristina PopescuDepartment of Oncologic Dermatology, Elias Emergency University Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-4632-576X
Mihai BerteanuDepartment of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Elias Emergency University Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-9379-4580

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spasticity of the distal lower limb substantially impairs stance, gait, and quality of life in patients with upper motor neuron lesions. Although ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections are increasingly employed, structured, muscle-specific visual guidance for the distal lower limb remains limited. This study provides a comprehensive guide for ultrasound-guided BoNT-A injections across ten key distal lower limb muscles: gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, and extensor digitorum longus. For each muscle, we present (1) Anatomical positioning relative to osseous landmarks; (2) Sonographic identification cues and dynamic features; (3) Zones of intramuscular neural arborization optimal for injection; (4) Practical injection protocols derived from literature and clinical experience. High-resolution ultrasound images and dynamic videos illustrate real-life muscle behavior and guide injection site selection. This guide facilitates precise targeting by correlating sonographic signs with optimal injection zones, addresses common spastic patterns-including equinus, varus, claw toe, and hallux deformities-and integrates fascial anatomy with motor-point mapping. This article completes the Elias University Hospital visual series, providing clinicians with a unified framework for effective spasticity management to improve gait, posture, and patient autonomy.

Indexed as

Botulinum Toxins, Type AMuscle, SkeletalMuscle SpasticityNeuromuscular AgentsUltrasonography, InterventionalFemaleHospitals, UniversityHumansInjections, IntramuscularLower ExtremityMaleMiddle AgedBotulinum Toxins, Type ANeuromuscular Agentsbotulinum toxin-A injectionsdistal lower limb musclesmusculoskeletal ultrasoundpost-stroke spasticityultrasound-guided therapy

Identifiers

PMID41150208
PMCPMC12568142

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Registered trials

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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.