[Treatment of spasmotic torticollis with botulinum toxin A. A 5-year experience].

60 patients have been treated with botulinumtoxin A for cervical dystonia since december 1990. These patients have been seen at 472 visits and received at least two treatments. 55 (92%) patients noted improvement, and marked improvement was noted by 50 out of 60 patients (83%). Further improvement after repeated treatments has been seen up to five years. Only one patient experienced no effect after several treatments with marked improvement. This might have been due to production of antibodies against the toxin. Side effects occurred after 9% of the toxin injections, and dysphagia was the symptom most often reported. The side effects were usually mild and transient, and never gave reason to terminate the treatment.