Clinical study of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of lower limb spasticity after stroke and head injury / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

AIM To determine whether botulinum toxin A (BTXa) is an effective and safe treatment for lower limb spasticity and improve walking ability after stroke or traumatic brain injury. METHODS 27 cases with stroke or traumatic brain injury affecting the muscles of lower extremity were selected to receive local intramuscular injection. The injected dose is between 50～100 U?(muscle) -1. All patients received rehabilitation therapy that focused on walking training. Patients were assessed at entry, and 2, 4 weeks post-treatment. The muscle tone was assessed by the modified Ashworth Scale, the changes of time-distance parameters was measured by footprint gait analysis. The correlation relationship between muscles tone and gait parameters was analysed. RESULTS Compared to pretreatment values, the total muscles spasticity, walking distance, and speed were significantly improved in all groups respectively, decrease in the modified Ashworth Score (P