PERIOPERATIVE USE OF BOTULINUM TOXIN FOR MOVEMENT DISORDER-INDUCED CERVICAL-SPINE DISEASE

Patients with cervical dystonia or ties of the nuchal muscles can deve lop serious cervical spine disease. We report a series of four patient s who received botulinum toxin injections to control their movement di sorders prior to their required surgery. One patient with cervical tie -induced radiculomyelopathy required botulinum toxin injection postope ratively to facilitate stabilization of the cervical fusion. Two patie nts with torticollis-induced cervical radiculomyelopathy, and one pati ent with dystonia-induced C5 fracture, had botulinum toxin injected pr eoperatively to facilitate postoperative recovery. Botulinum toxin app ears to be a useful adjunct in the treatment of cervical movement diso rders prior to or following surgery for associated cervical spine dise ase.