Botulinum toxin in infantile cerebral palsy

A number of studies have proved the effectiveness and safety of botulinum toxin in therapeutic doses. To analyse the results obtained over a 12-year period in which botulinum toxin type A (BTA) was used to treat infantile cerebral palsy (CP). Of a total number of 547 patients who were treated, 515 had CP, 464 with spasticity, 46 with mixed CP and 5 with dyskinetic CP with focal dystonia. Overall evaluation of BTA is positive, both as regards its beneficial effects and its safety: tone was mildly improved in 18.5% of patients, with no change in motor functioning, 39% showed a moderate improvement, 19% a marked improvement and 5.6% experienced a marked and prolonged improvement. Forty-two patients (8.15%) presented side effects, the most common being weakness in the lower limbs, which occurred in 21 cases. BTA is a good therapeutic option for treating children with CP, not only for the focal involvement but also as palliative treatment in children with diffuse involvement.