Management of spasticity in cerebral palsy with botulinum-A toxin: report of a preliminary, randomized, double-blind trial. Botulinum toxin A versus fixed cast stretching for dynamic calf tightness in cerebral palsy. Botulinum toxin A compared with stretching casts in the treatment of spastic equinus: a randomised prospective trial.
In order to evaluate further the efficacy of local intramuscular injections of botulinum-A toxin (BAT-A) in the management of dynamic equinus deformity associated with cerebral palsy, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken. When evaluated using our Physician Rating Scale, 83% (five of six) of patients receiving toxin showed improvement, versus 33% (two of six) receiving placebo. There were no major complications. BAT-A injections appear to be safe and effective in children, and merit further prospective study. To compare botulinum toxin A injections with fixed plaster cast stretching in the management of cerebral palsied children with dynamic (i.e. non-fixed) calf tightness.
                The settings were the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) and the Crippled Children's Association of South Australia (CCA), Adelaide, South Australia. Twenty children were selected by two paediatric rehabilitation specialists. A prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled study, was carried out, with 10 children in each arm. The clinicians were blinded as to the allocated interventions. The outcome measures for 6 months post intervention were clinical assessment, modified Ashworth Scale, Gross Motor Function Measure, 2 D-video ratings using a modified Physical Rating Scale and a global scoring scale and a parent satisfaction questionnaire.
                Botulinum toxin A injections were of similar efficacy to serial fixed plaster casting in improving dynamic calf tightness in ambulant or partially ambulant children with cerebral palsy. The ease of outpatient administration, reduction of muscle tone and safety with botulinum toxin A was confirmed. Parents consistently favoured botulinum toxin A and highlighted the inconvenience of serial casting. Conservative therapies for equinus in cerebral palsy may help to postpone calf surgery in younger children. This study reports a prospective randomised trial of intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BtA) as an alternative to serial casting in 20 children with a dynamic component to calf equinus. Outcome was assessed in the short term to show the effect of one treatment cycle. Assessments were by clinical examination, video gait analysis, and three-dimensional gait analysis. BtA was of efficacy similar to that of serial casting. Tone reduction in the BtA group allowed a more prolonged improvement in passive dorsiflexion, which may allow more opportunity for increase in muscle length. Gait analysis showed an improved mean ankle kinematic pattern in a subsection of both groups, which was maintained at 12 weeks in the BtA group, whereas the cast group relapsed. There were fewer side effects in the BtA group. Median time to reintervention was similar.
This systematic review has not revealed strong controlled evidence to support or refute the use of BtA for the treatment of leg spasticity in cerebral palsy.
Ongoing randomised controlled trials are likely to provide useful data on the short term effects of BtA for leg spasticity.
Future research should also assess the longer term use of BtA. Ideally studies should be pragmatic in their approach to dose and distribution of toxin to reflect practise. Outcome measures assessing function and disability would give the most useful information.