Motor function following multilevel botulinum toxin type A treatment in children with cerebral palsy

Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 Jan;49(1):56-61. doi: 10.1017/s001216220700014x.x.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of multilevel botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) treatments on the gait pattern of children with spastic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System Levels I-III). In this nested case-control design, 30 children (mean age 6y 11mo [SD 1y 5mo]; 21 males, nine females; 19 with hemiplegia, 11 with diplegia) were treated according to best practice guidelines in paediatric orthopaedics, including BTX-A injections. A matched control group of 30 children (mean age 7y 8mo [SD 1y 10mo]; 13 males, 17 females; 19 with hemiplegia, 11 with diplegia) were treated identically, but without BTX-A. Motor development status at 5 to 10 years of age was assessed by means of three-dimensional gait analysis at a mean time of 1 year 10 months (SD 10mo) after the last BTX-A treatment. The control group showed a significantly more pronounced pathological gait pattern than the BTX-A group. Major differences were found for pelvic anterior tilt, maximum hip and knee extension, and internal hip rotation. These results provide evidence for a prolonged effect of BTX-A and suggest that BTX-A injections, in combination with common conservative treatment options, result in a gait pattern that is less defined by secondary problems (e.g. bony deformities) at 5 to 10 years of age, minimizing the need for complex surgery at a later age and enhancing quality of life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / pharmacology*
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / therapeutic use*
  • Cerebral Palsy / drug therapy*
  • Cerebral Palsy / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gait / drug effects*
  • Hemiplegia / drug therapy
  • Hemiplegia / epidemiology
  • Hip / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Skills / drug effects*
  • Neuromuscular Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neuromuscular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Rotation
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Neuromuscular Agents
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A