[Writer's cramp treated with botulinum injections].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the first clinical experience with local botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections in patients with writer's cramp.

DESIGN

Descriptive.

SETTING

Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

METHOD

In May 1993-January 1996 ten patients with writer's cramp were treated with BTA (Dysport). Age of the patients varied from 28 to 68 years, the duration of complaints from 1 to 29 years. Muscles for injections were selected by observation, sometimes combined with electromyography. BTA was administered under electromyographic guidance.

RESULTS

The amount of BTA administered per treatment session ranged from 15 to 400 IU. In three patients the BTA-induced weakness necessary to reach a beneficial effect on writing was unacceptable. In seven patients the response was satisfactory or good and lasted 2 to 15 months (mean: 3.5 months).

CONCLUSION

The results confirm the efficacy of BTA in writer's cramp.