Botulinum toxin type A injection increases range of motion in hip, knee and ankle joint contractures of children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of children with spastic type cerebral palsy (CP) treated with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection for lower limb contracture and the influence of age, gender, functional level and degree of initial contracture on treatment outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical records at pre-BoNT-A injection and post-BoNT-A injections of 153 sessions of a total of 118 consecutive children (67 boys, 51 girls; mean age 5.9±2.6 years; range, 2.5-16 years) were retrospectively evaluated. Degrees of pre- and post-injection contracture were evaluated. Post-injection supplemental casting for 10 days was recorded in all cases. Less than 20° of hip flexion contracture, more than 30° of hip abduction, a negative prone Ely test, less than 50° of popliteal angle and at least 5° of ankle dorsiflexion values at post-injection were accepted as sufficient clinical improvement.

RESULTS

Sufficient post-injection range of motion (ROM) was observed in 80% of cases with hip flexion contracture, in 45% of cases with hip adduction contracture, in 84% of cases with knee flexion contracture and in 77% of cases with ankle equinus contracture. Prone Ely test that was positive in 60% of cases with knee extension contracture was negative at post-injection. Improvement in contractures were prominent in children with lesser degree initial contractures.

CONCLUSION

Botulinum toxin type A injection increases ROM in hip, knee and ankle joint contractures in CP. Although age, gender and functional level may influence the clinical outcomes, pre-treatment level of contracture is the main determinant in improvement in ROM at post-injection.