Clinical effectiveness of botulinum toxin–a in management of muscle tone abnormalities in patients with neuromuscular disorders

Abstract EN

Aim Of Work: This study was designed to detect the effect of BTX-A injection in relieving symptoms of limb spasticity and its role in the management.

Material & Methods: The study was performed on 30 patients; they were 19 males and 11 females, aged 12-65 years.

Patients used to suffer from moderate to severe spasticity of the upper or lower limbs secondary to different upper motor neuron lesions.

A combination of subjective and objective measures was used to assess functional changes at base line and monthly for 6 months.

BTX–A injections were given in one or two sessions at total doses averaging 175 ? in the upper limb (range 70-270 ?) and 221 ?? in the lower limb (range 100-500 ?).

Results: BTX–A therapy is effective in the treatment of spasticity.

Changes in muscle spasm or pain occurred within the first week after the injection in 24 patients.

It was as late as two weeks in 6 patients.

The change in clinical disability was significantly better in the upper limb as compared with lower limb muscles.

Also pain reduction was significant in the upper limb muscles than those of the lower limb.

Side effects were limited to local and mild discomfort from the injections.