Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and the self-reported efficacy of botulinum
toxin injections for adult spasticity in current clinical practice. SUBJECTS: A total of 406 adult patients with
focal spasticity received of 1136 series botulinum toxin injections at Bordeaux
University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2009. METHODS: Adverse events
following botulinum toxin injections were reported.
Their severity and the
therapeutic efficacy of botulinum toxin injections were estimated with a
four-point self-reporting scale (0 to 3). Latency and duration of adverse events
and subjective improvement were also noted. RESULTS: The data of 640 series of
injections were analyzed. Forty-six (7.2%) adverse events were reported, of which
36 (78%) were local. There were 18 (39%) cases of local muscular weakness with an
average duration of 30.0 (SD 38.2) days, and an average severity score of 1.0 (SD
0.97). Among systemic adverse events, there were 8 (17%) cases of excessive
fatigue without global muscular weakness and 2 (4%) cases of transitory
generalized muscular weakness. The average subjective improvement score was 1.89
(SD 0.97) and was higher for upper, than for lower, limbs
(P=0.007). CONCLUSION:
Self-reported adverse events following botulinum toxin injections in spasticity
are rare, often benign and of short duration in current clinical practice.
Botulinum toxin is considered effective by patients in treating spasticity of the
upper and lower limbs.

Langue : ANGLAIS