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Effectiveness and Safety of Early Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin Injections to Prevent Shoulder Deformity in Babies With Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy

Effectiveness and Safety of Early Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin Injections to Prevent Shoulder Deformity in Babies With Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03198702
Acronym
POPB-TOX
Enrollment
62
Registered
2017-06-26
Start date
2018-05-17
Completion date
2027-06-01
Last updated
2026-03-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy

Keywords

physiotherapy, children, shoulder deformation, obstetrical brachial plexus palsy

Brief summary

In children population with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP), shoulder musculoskeletal deformity is the main cause of morbidity, with a loss of range of shoulder motion, pain and a reduction in social participation. Some uncontrolled studies shows that early injections of botulinum toxin (BTI) in the internal shoulder rotator muscles (which cause the deformity) are one of the most promising treatment for the prevention of bony deformity. The main objective of this study will be the evaluation of the effectiveness of BTI in the internal shoulder rotator muscles at the age of 12 months in preventing an increase in posterior subluxation of the glenohumeral joint in babies with OBPP (evaluated at the ages of 11 months and 18 months), compared to the Sham group.

Interventions

A total of 8UI/kg will be injected in the internal shoulder rotator muscles: 2UI/kg in the sub scapular muscle, 3UI/kg in the pectoralis major muscle and 3UI/kg in the teres major/latissimus dorsi muscle.

OTHERSham

The injection is mimed, the procedure is the same as the botulinum toxin injection.

Sponsors

University Hospital, Brest
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Intervention model description

First group or "toxin" group: the babies will receive BOTOX injections at the age of 12 months in the shoulder muscles. Second group or "sham" group:the babies receive the same procedure but no injection.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
10 Months to 11 Months
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male and female babies with unilateral OBPP * Age between 10 and 11 months * Presenting one of 2 risk factors for posterior subluxation of the humeral head (10° less passive external ROM of the affected shoulder compared with the contralateral shoulder and/or a score strictly less than 6 on the AMS for shoulder external rotation and abduction, elbow flexion or supination) * Signature of the consent form by (the) parent(s) over the age of majority

Exclusion criteria

* Bilateral OBPP * Microsurgery or secondary muscle surgery planned between 12 and 18 months of age * Contraindications to the use of botulinum toxin * Contraindications to MRI * MRI not possible in the Paediatric Day Hospital setting because of contraindications to the sedation protocol or due to organisational constraints * Parents inapt to provide consent for the participation of their child * Parents under the age of 18 years

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Change in the percentage posterior migration of the humeral head measured on axial MRI slices between 11 (before the BTI carried out at 12 months) and 18 months of age (6 months post BTI).At 18 month age

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
compare the effectiveness of BTI with Sham procedure in preventing an increase in glenoid retroversion and three-dimensional deformityAt 18 month ageWith 2D glenoid changes measured on axial MRI and 3D glenoid version and migration of the humeral head measured on MRI
compare the effectiveness of BTI with Sham procedure in the improvement of active and passive joint range of motion and upper limb functionAt 18 month ageBy measurement of passive range of motion, Active Movement Scale and Assistive Hand Assessment.
confirm good clinical tolerance of BTI treatmentAt 18 month ageBy measurement of the number of serious and non-serious adverse events
evaluate the effects of BTI on trophicity, fibrosis and fatty infiltration of the injected muscles as well as muscle balance of the OBPP shoulderAt 18 month ageBu measurement of the degree of trophicity, fibrosis and fatty infiltration of the injected muscles (supraspinous, infraspinous, teres minor, subscapularis, teres major, pectoralis major, deltoid and latissimus dorsi)
determine if the treatment changes the frequency and type of surgical interventions in the long termevery years on 2 years old to 10 years oldthe number and type of surgical interventions undergone by the children in each group will be recorded during routine medical follow-up (as in usual practice) until the child's 10th birthday following unblinding (9 years and 6 months after the BTI).

Countries

France

Contacts

CONTACTSylvain Brochard, Pr
sylvain.brochard@chu-brest.fr(+33) 02 98 22.33.73

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 21, 2026