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Functional improvement in cerebral palsy patients treated with botulinum toxin A injections – preliminary results
Author(s) -
Sławek J.,
Klimont L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2003.00582.x
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , medicine , spasticity , botulinum toxin , rating scale , clinical global impression , concordance , modified ashworth scale , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , anesthesia , psychology , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , placebo
Authors report the preliminary results of an open‐label, prospective study to evaluate a functional benefit of botulinum toxin type A injections in diparetic cerebral palsy patients, using gross motor function measure (GMFM) score. In a group of 14 children (mean age 3.9 years, range 2–6) treated with Dysport 30 IU/kg, a statistically significant improvement ( P < 0.05) was noticed in both simple measurements (Modified Ashworth Scale, Selective Motor Control, Passive Range of Movements, Physician Rating Scale and parental Clinical Global Impression) and complex functions (GMFM dimensions D and E) after 1 and 3 months. However, the simple measurement scores decreased (but not to the baseline) after 3 months; surprisingly, GMFM scores were still increasing (7.7% change after 3 months and 11.3% change after 6 months in nine patients). These results are in concordance with a few other data published to date. The study may support the concept of persistent functional gain in long‐term treatment of spasticity caused by cerebral palsy with botulinum toxin type A.