title: Parameters for predicting favorable responses to botulinum toxin in children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: We sought markers for predicting a favorable outcome of botulinum toxin A injected to the lower-extremity muscles of 26 children with hemiplegic or diplegic cerebral palsy. Clinical assessment preceding and 1 month following injection included gross motor function measure, a modified Ashworth scale, and evaluation of range of motion of knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion. Response to treatment was classified based on a parent questionnaire. The 19 children (73%) considered by their parents as being good responders were compared to the 7 (27%) considered as being poor responders. In the good responders, the preinjection Ashworth scale (spasticity) was significantly higher (P < .05) and gross motor function measure scores (function) were lower (P < .05). Sixty-eight percent of the good responders were nonindependent walkers compared to 14% of the poor responders (P < .05). There were no differences in age, type of cerebral palsy, and dose of injection. An Ashworth scale indicating increased muscle tone, lower gross motor function measure scores, and nonindependent ambulatory status were predictive for a favorable response to botulinum toxin A injections and can guide patient selection and expectations of treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Child Development, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. afatal@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattal-Valevski
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giladi
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Domanievitz
authors.forename: Luba
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zuk
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masterman
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harel
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wientroub
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayek
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A