Botox for Cerebral Palsy
May 3, 2004(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The same toxin used to fight wrinkles may also help children with cerebral palsy.
In a study of more than 70 patients with cerebral palsy, researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., found patients injected with Botox experienced three-times the improvement in functional ability compared to those on placebo.
Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the developing nervous system that occurs during or shortly after birth. The disease causes arms and legs to stiffen and contract. Botox helps relax those muscles and appears to improve a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks.
L. Andrew Koman, M.D., from Brenner Children’s Hospital at
Wake Forest, says, “This non-surgical intervention is one way to improve
functional outcomes for these patients, decrease pain, and facilitate care.”
Dr. Koman says patients experienced the most benefit one to two days after
receiving the injection. The injections can be repeated every three to six
months. Dr. Koman says: “Many of our patients come back into the office asking
for additional injections because they are thrilled with the results. Once the
muscles have relaxed, patients can undergo therapy to strengthen weak
muscles.”
Dr. Koman says the only side effect is soreness at the sight of the injection. He says Botox injections work well when combined with other treatments.
SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics’ annual meeting in San Francisco, May 1-4, 2004
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