title: Short-term effects of "botulinum toxin a" as treatment for children with cerebral palsy: kinematic and kinetic aspects at the ankle joint.
abstract: Botulinum toxin A (BTA) therapy plays several roles in the management of paediatric cerebral palsy (CP). However, few studies contain objective documentation of gait changes. The main aim of this study was to provide objective information on the outcome of the treatment. Gait analysis data from 20 normal subjects and 23 CP children were collected before and after BTA injections into the gastrocnemius-soleus complex. The follow up was performed 1 month after the first injection. The kinematic and kinetic data revealed significant improvements in dynamic ankle dorsiflexion, both in stance and in the swing phase, an improvement of equinus foot upon initial contact and better support in stance. The results of this study are promising, but studies of other joints involved in gait, such as the knee, are also needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Polytechnic of Milan, Italy. galli@biomed.polimi.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crivellini
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Santambrogio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fazzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Motta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004863:Equinus Deformity / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A