Botox Therapy

Botox, or botulinum toxin A, is an injectable therapy which can help with spastic movements, discomfort and pain associated with cerebral palsy. The medication itself is made from a toxic chemical which is produced by the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. However, when it is injected in very small doses into the muscles of someone who has cerebral palsy, it only affects the muscles in that area and does not make the person unwell.

Botox therapy works to weaken or paralyze the muscles near the site of the injection and this causes that area to be less affected by spasms and spasticity. It is typically used to improve spasticity affecting the legs but can be used anywhere in the body. This can improve the range of movement children with spasticity have, reduce their pain, improve their movement when walking and also the position of their limbs and joints. Botox therapy can therefore also delay the need for surgery to correct muscle and joint problems and so reduce the risks which are associated with surgery at a younger age.

It is worth noting that the Botox injection has only a temporary effect on the area where it is injected and so treatment may need to be repeated. However, long term beneficial effects on how a child moves have been seen as a result of injections given intermittently over the course of two years.

Botox therapy is considered very safe and is widely used for children with cerebral palsy. However, there are risks with any medical treatment. An injection can be painful but the pain from Botox injections does not normally last more than a few seconds. Numbing spray can be used to reduce the pain.

Rarely, children have developed botulism as a result of Botox therapy and there is a potential risk of death if this occurs. However, the risk of this happening is very low. There are more common and less serious complications of Botox therapy including weakness in the area injected, general weakness and infection at the site of the injection.

In order to determine if your child will benefit from Botox therapy you should speak with your child’s pediatrician or physiatrist. A child will need to be assessed for suitability, and their suitability may depend upon the degree of spasticity they have, which areas are affected, whether they are likely to tolerate multiple visits and how their cerebral palsy otherwise impacts upon their health and movement. Botox injections are usually covered by government health insurance plans, including MSP.