Botulinum toxin treatment in cerebral palsy: evidence for a new treatment option

Intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) have increasingl y been used to reduce spasticity in specific muscle groups in children with cerebral palsy. Targets of therapeutic efforts are improvement of gross mo tor function, alleviation of pain or facilitation of hygienic care. Placebo -controlled studies have shown the local and functional effectiveness of BT X-A for the treatment of dynamic pes equinus. Whether long-term treatment w ith BTX-A improves motor development and delays contractures is still under investigation.