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Phenol neurolysis is used to treat focal spasticity. Neurolysis with phenol can be employed in patients who are refractory to conservative measures or those too young for more aggressive approaches such as selective dorsal rhizotomy, intrathecal baclofen or orthopedic surgery.
In patients with multifocal spasticity, inadequately treated with BTX alone, the combination of phenol neurolysis and chemodenervation with BTX may provide the best overall treatment. Since one cannot develop resistance to phenol, the rare patient with true BTX resistance might also be a phenol candidate.