title: Safety and self-reported efficacy of botulinum toxin for adult spasticity in current clinical practice: a prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and the self-reported efficacy of botulinum toxin injections for adult spasticity in current clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 406 adult patients with focal spasticity received of 1136 series botulinum toxin injections at Bordeaux University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adverse events following botulinum toxin injections were reported. Their severity and the therapeutic efficacy of botulinum toxin injections were estimated with a four-point self-reporting scale (0 to 3). Latency and duration of adverse events and subjective improvement were also noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data of 640 series of injections were analyzed. Forty-six (7.2%) adverse events were reported, of which 36 (78%) were local. There were 18 (39%) cases of local muscular weakness with an average duration of 30.0 (SD 38.2) days, and an average severity score of 1.0 (SD 0.97). Among systemic adverse events, there were 8 (17%) cases of excessive fatigue without global muscular weakness and 2 (4%) cases of transitory generalized muscular weakness. The average subjective improvement score was 1.89 (SD 0.97) and was higher for upper, than for lower, limbs (P=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported adverse events following botulinum toxin injections in spasticity are rare, often benign and of short duration in current clinical practice. Botulinum toxin is considered effective by patients in treating spasticity of the upper and lower limbs.
authors.affiliation: Université Bordeaux, Bordeaux cedex, France. fmuller.gassies@ugecamaq.fr
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cugy
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ducerf
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delleci
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guehl
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burbaud
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dehail
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061214:Patient Safety; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A