Evaluation of a program of application of the botulinum toxin type A in children with cerebral palsy in Vale do Jequitinhonha/Avaliacao de um programa de aplicacao de toxina botulinica tipo A em criancas do Vale do Jequitinhonha com paralisia cerebral

The scope of this study was to evaluate the effects of a public program of application of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in terms of muscle spasticity, range of motion, quality of gait, functional independence and quality of life of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 14 children with CP to evaluate the effects of three applications of BoNT-A, at intervals of three months. Children were assessed using the Modified Ashworth Rating Scale, the Manual Goniometer, the Physician Rating Scale, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the Caregiver Questionnaire (CQ). There was a reduction of spasticity, an increase in the range of motion, an improvement of the functional abilities of self-care and mobility of PEDI and the areas of personal care, comfort and interaction/communication with the CQ. The BoNT-A application program for children and adolescents with CP, conducted in a public rehabilitation service in the Jequitinhonha Valley, was effective for the targeted population. Key words Botulinum toxin, Cerebral palsy, Unified Health System O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de um programa publico de aplicacao de toxina botulinica tipo A (TBA) na espasticidade muscular, amplitude de movimento, qualidade da marcha, independencia funcional e qualidade de vida de criancas e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral (PC). Foi realizado um estudo quase experimental que avaliou os efeitos do emprego da TBA, aplicada tres vezes, com intervalos de tres meses, em 14 criancas com PC. Estas foram avaliadas atraves da Escala Modificada de Ashworth, Goniometria Manual, Physician Rating Scale, Inventario de Avaliacao Pediatrica de Incapacidade (PEDI) e Questionario do Cuidador da Crianca (QCC). Foi observada reducao da espasticidade, aumento da amplitude de movimento, melhora das habilidades funcionais de autocuidado e mobilidade do PEDI e das areas de cuidado pessoal, conforto e interacao/comunicacao do QCC. O programa de aplicacao de TBA em criancas e adolescentes com PC, realizado em um nucleo de reabilitacao publico do Vale do Jequitinhonha, foi efetivo para a populacao beneficiada. Palavras-chave Toxina botulinica, Paralisia cerebral, Sistema Unico de Saude