title: [Botulinum toxin in infantile cerebral palsy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of studies have proved the effectiveness and safety of botulinum toxin in therapeutic doses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neuropediatría, Unidad Integrada Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Clínic, E-08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona. pilarpoo@hsjdbnc.org
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Póo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galván-Manso
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Casartelli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Casas
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gassió-Subirats
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terricabras-Carol