L'impiego della tossina botulinica nella paralisi cerebrale infantile (PCI): Protocollo di valutazione funzionale e strumentale

Botulinum toxin type A was used in treatment of children with CP for the past seven years. We studied effectiveness of injection of botulinum toxin in spasticity and in dynamic deformities. Twenty patients aged three to ten years were treated with a dose in the range of 2-5 IU/kg body weight per muscle. Functional and instrumental assessment included: 1) goniometric evaluation of joint range of motion; 2) gross motor functional measure (GMFM); 3) Ashworth scale; 4) gait analysis; 5) posturometry. Evaluation at one/three/six months showed improvement of gait pattern in timing and step length; an increase of passive ankle dorsiflexion of about 15%; a decrease of sway of about 15% with improvement of stability; a reduction of spasticity in about 40% of patients. In 30% of patients we observed an increase of the score in the standing and gait sections of GMFM.