The emerging role of therapeutic botulinum toxin in the treatment of cerebral palsy.

Therapeutic injections of botulinum toxin have been used for the past decade to decrease muscle tone in children with cerebral palsy. Although this unique intervention has been shown to provide safe localized spasticity reduction, functional benefits have been more difficult to demonstrate. Appropriate selection of patients and clearly defined goals are key factors in the success of a treatment program. The therapeutic approach to treating children with cerebral palsy should include a variety of complementary interventions that address the effect of abnormal muscle tone on the abilities of these children as they grow and develop.