Botox Treatment For Cerebral Palsy

Botulinum Toxin A--more commonly known as Botox or BTA injections--has been used to treat various symptoms of Cerebral Palsy with great degrees of success. It has been used to treat muscle spasms, tiptoe walking, and even the drooling that is often associated with the disorder. The amount of Botox used to treat each patient depends on the symptoms being treated and their severity. 

Children who have cerebral palsy are often helped by BTA injections. Many children have problems with spasms in the legs that make it very difficult if not impossible to walk. They may also face problems with local spasms in the hips or upper body. Botox is extremely helpful in reducing these spasms so the patients are more comfortable and can move easier. Tiptoe walking is another problem commonly relieved with Botox injections. This condition occurs when spasms in the calves prevent the feet from sitting flat down to the floor. BTA injections can ease the calve muscles and stop the spasm temporarily, allowing the feet to walk flat on the floor. 

Many children with cerebral palsy have experienced better balance and stability with these injections in the legs. Sometimes patients with cerebral palsy will experience problems that exacerbate other symptoms of the disorder. Botox can help with many of these problems, including abnormal bone structures, weakness in the joints, and fixed contractures, which is a shortening of the muscles. Children with cerebral palsy have also experienced great relief when Botox is injected into the salvia glands. Dry mouth is a common side effect of taking these injections, but for children with a drooling problem this is a great thing. Drooling can cause serious social and health problems for kids with cerebral palsy, but it can be cleared up with this side effect of the injections. 

Within a few days of having the injections, those with cerebral palsy will start to feel the effects of the treatment. How long it lasts depends on where the injections were placed and the amount that was used, but most can expect it to last between four and eight months. There are few side effects or complications with BTA injections, but caution should be taken to monitor the child with cerebral palsy to ensure there are no negative side effects before undergoing additional treatments. The procedure should never be done by a physician that is not trained and experienced in the procedure. Once a clear success rate is established, the injections will need to be repeated on a regular schedule. The process may be uncomfortable or slightly painful for children with cerebral palsy, but the benefits often outweigh this discomfort.