The effect of botulinum toxin A on gastrocnemius length : magnitude and duration of response

Eames, NWA; Baker, RJ; Hill, N; Graham, K; Taylor, T; Cosgrove, A

Abstract

Thirty-nine ambulant children (22 with hemiplegia, 17 with
diplegia) with spastic cerebral palsy receiving isolated
gastrocnemius muscle injection with botulinum toxin A were
studied prospectively. The children had a mean age of 6 years(range 3 to 13 years). Measurement of gastrocnemius muscle length was used to estimate the dynamic component of each child’s spasticity and to quantify the response. There was a strong correlation between the dynamic component of
spasticity before injection and the corresponding magnitude
of the response after injection. Children undergoing repeated injections showed similar correlations. A strong correlation was found between the duration of response and the dynamic component. Children with hemiplegia showed twice the duration for a given dynamic component compared with those with diplegia when injected with the same total dose per unit body weight. Long-term lengthening did not occur for the cohort, although some patients showed a response at a 12-month follow-up. By delaying shortening, the injections may have a role in delaying the need for surgery. Injections were well tolerated with few side effects.

Citation

Eames, N., Baker, R., Hill, N., Graham, K., Taylor, T., & Cosgrove, A. (1999). The effect of botulinum toxin A on gastrocnemius length : magnitude and duration of response. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 41(4), 226-232. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.1999.tb00589.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 1999
• Deposit Date: Jul 7, 2011
• Journal: Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
• Print ISSN: 0012-1622
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 226-232
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.1999.tb00589.x
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.1999.tb00589.x