title: Effects of early spasticity treatment on children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare motor and functional performance of two groups of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). Only the study group (SG) received early treatment of spasticity with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BXT-A).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), functional performance (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - PEDI), range of movement, gait pattern (Physician Rating Scale - PRS) and the speed of hand movements were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SG, composed of 11 HCP (45.64±6.3 months), was assessed in relation to the comparison group, composed of 13 HCP (45.92±6.4 months). SG showed higher scores in four of the five GMFM dimensions, which included scores that were statistically significant for dimension B, and higher scores in five of the six areas evaluated in the PEDI. Active wrist extension, the speed of hand movements and PRS score were higher in the SG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children who received early BXT-A treatment for spasticity showed higher scores in motor and functional performance.
authors.affiliation: Neuropediatrics Center, Clinics Hospital, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba PR, Brazil. marisebzonta@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marise Bueno
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Zonta
authors.forename: Isac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruck
authors.forename: Marilene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puppi
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muzzolon
authors.forename: Arnolfo de Carvalho
authors.initials: Ade C
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Lúcia Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Coutinho dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A