The type A botulinum toxin in the treatment of spasticity in evolutive age.
BACKGROUND
Spastic hypertonia with or without athetosis is the main cause of impairment of motor functions. In actual treatments to this condition, it is provided the application of the type A botulinic toxin, which allows the decrease of spasticity and, at the same time, the amelioration of the movement control, reducing the incidence and gravity of contractures.


METHODS
This work relates about the treatment of spasticity with the use of type A botulinic toxin in a group of 18 subjects in evolutive age. Before the treatment and during the follow-up, each clinical case had an objective general test, a neurologic test, a video recording and, at the same time, the administration of the Physician Rating Scale (PRS) to evaluate both pace and amplitude of the circular movement.


RESULTS
Ten subjects showed a prominent reduction of hypertonia and contractures, amelioration in ambulating and grievous symptomatology. Eight cases presented a light amelioration; only a case suffered of a temporary hyposthomia. The sensibility of the subject to the toxin can ever since be researched, through the toxin inoculation in a not jet involved distal muscle, and through a following clinical or electromyographic evaluation on the caused effect. This allows to put in evidence the increasing resistance to the toxin after repeated administrations.


CONCLUSIONS
It is interesting to evaluate the way in which the lives of patients and their parents have been influenced by the disease, and how the use of botulinic toxin may positively interfere on it.
Roccella
M
M
Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, Palermo.
D000293:Adolescent; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A