title: Focal dystonia in musicians: treatment strategies and long-term outcome in 144 patients.
abstract: We present the long-term outcome of 144 musicians with focal dystonia after treatment with botulinum toxin (n = 71), trihexiphenidyl (n = 69), pedagogical retraining (n = 24), ergonomic changes (n = 51), or nonspecific exercises on the instrument (n = 78). Outcome was assessed by patients' subjective rating of cumulative treatment response and response to individual therapies. Seventy-seven patients (54%) reported an alleviation of symptoms: 33% of the patients with trihexiphenidyl, 49% with botulinum toxin, 50% with pedagogical retraining, 56% with unmonitored technical exercises, and 63% with ergonomic changes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, University of Music and Drama, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jabusch
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zschucke
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuele
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altenmüller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D001905:Botulinum Toxins