Mercy to offer specialized pediatric neurology clinics
Starting in mid-February, Mercy Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic will begin conducting specialized team-centered spasticity and headache clinics for children. The spasticity clinic will combine the expertise of Dr. Hamza Alsayouf, pediatric neurologist, and a team of physical therapists and orthotics specialists, in evaluating and treating children with chronic spasticity using Botox injections. Botox will be injected into the affected muscle approximately every three-to-six months to decrease spasticity, help muscle growth and allow more functional gain from physical therapy. The physical therapists and orthotics team will then evaluate the children to assess whether certain exercises and splints may further improve the spasticity. There are very few clinics in central Iowa where children with spasticity disorders can be treated. Many children have their care transferred to out-of-state facilities, which causes extra burden for the patient and families. The spasticity clinic will see patients twice a month initially.
Dr. Alsayouf will also begin a headache clinic in mid-February for children and adolescents with chronic headaches, including migraines. Dr. Alsayouf will use a headache calendar to track the frequency and intensity of the child’s headache and PedMIDAS Headache Tool to assess migraine disability. Using that information, Dr. Alsayouf will be able to determine whether medical treatment— in combination with biofeedback/relaxation techniques—will be most beneficial in treating each individual’s needs. Information and education on headaches will be provided to each family at their initial visit. Dr. Alsayouf will be referring children who would benefit from biofeedback and relaxation training to a licensed psychologist in Des Moines who specializes in this treatment option. Trigger-point injections for chronic refractory headache patients will also be considered on an individual basis.
In most cases, families will need a referral from their primary health physician to be evaluated and treated.
Please call Mercy Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic at (515) 643-5454 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
