Spasticity management and resolution of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity in the acute care setting: a case series

The aim is to highlight three cases of focal spasticity and/or dystonia as potential noxious triggers and treatment targets of Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity (PSH).

We review the literature, explore pathophysiology, and review treatment options. We discuss the clinical course and management of three unique patients who presented to a teaching hospital with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) complicated by PSH managed by a physiatry consult team.

Three patients, ranging in age from 8 months to 27 years, were admitted with severe TBI complicated by PSH refractory to pharmacologic management. All three patients, however, had resolution of PSH within 24-72 hours of focal spasticity treatments (i.e. casting and botulinum toxin injections).

PSH is a constellation of physiologic findings and physical symptoms that is incompletely understood. Management is based on addressing predominant symptom features and physiologic responses. In certain cases, ongoing spasticity and/or dystonia may serve as noxious stimuli for persistence of PSH in moderate to severe brain injury. As such, the focal treatment of spasticity and/or dystonia may be considered as a treatment target in the management of refractory PSH.