[The prevention of pain during botulinum toxin injections in children]

Blandine Gosset1, Emilie Dufour, Marie-Véronique Jonas

  • 1Centre MPR L'Adapt, Cambrai. gosset.blandine@ladapt.net

Insights

Botulinum toxin injections help reduce spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Play-based nurse consultations build trust, easing treatment anxiety and improving outcomes for pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Context:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) spasticity management in children.
  • French health product safety agency (AFSSAPS) recommendations (2009) support botulinum toxin use.
  • Child apprehension can exacerbate pain during treatment sessions.

Purpose:

  • To describe a play-based nurse consultation program designed to alleviate child apprehension before botulinum toxin injections for cerebral palsy spasticity.
  • To foster trust between the child and healthcare providers.

Summary:

  • A nurse consultation program utilizing play-based methods has been implemented since 2008.
  • This initiative aims to prepare children for botulinum toxin injection sessions.
  • The program is situated within a physical medicine and rehabilitation center.

Impact:

  • Potential to reduce treatment-related pain and anxiety in pediatric CP patients.
  • Enhances patient cooperation and therapeutic alliance.
  • Improves the overall experience of children undergoing spasticity treatment.

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