NeuroDash

The stroke case library

chronic — tier 3

Long-Term Botulinum Toxin Cycle at Nine Months

Patient58M, chronic phase
LesionMCA territory, moderate
SeverityNIHSS 5
Days since onset270
Before the strokeFactory supervisor, right-hand dominant, social drinker
Also on the chartHypertension; Former smoker
PrecautionsInjection-site soreness for a few days; Do not confuse reduced tone with new strength

Test yourself

How should this third cycle be run?

The teaching

Toxin is a means, not a plan — reassess goals every cycle (Turner-Stokes 2005) The post-injection window is for task practice; that is where function changes Judge cycles by goal attainment, not by tone scores alone (NICE NG236 2023)

  • New pain, swelling, or skin breakdown in the injected limb — reassess before the next cycle
  • Generalised weakness after injection — report and review the dose

Read next

The full sequence

This page carries the case’s first decision. The full sequence — every decision, the five-domain examination, and the debrief that grades you — is in the drill, and the library is included with membership.

Sources on this page: Turner-Stokes 2005, Clinical Rehabilitation, goal attainment scaling in spasticity management. NICE guideline NG236 2023, stroke rehabilitation in adults