ABSTRACT

Botulinum toxin (BTX) causes muscle paralysis by blocking acetylcholine secretion at the neuromuscular junctions. In this study, results of BTX applications in our neurology department were described. Analysis of dystonia patients and the duration of BTX efficacy were investigated.

Fiftyseven dystonia patients, who admitted to our outpatient clinics between July 2007-August 2009, were injected by Botulinum type A. In this treatment, dental injector for the neck and extremity muscles, insulin injectors for the facial muscles were used. Statistically, Student t-test was applied. Results were considered significant at the level of p<0,05.

The patients aged between 23-86 years (51,23±13,98) and 33 of them were women. Twenty four patients had hemifacial spasm (HFS), 20 had cervical dystonia, 4 blepharospasm (BFS), 3 familial spastic paraparesis, 2 idiopathic focal dystonia, 2 writing cramp, and 2 post-stroke spasticity. It was revealed that average reinjection time for the HFS and BFS groups was 7,11±3,55 months, average reinjection time for the rest of the group was 5,78±2,73 months. Although reinjection time for the HFS and BFS groups were determined longer than the rest of the group, statistically there was no significant difference (p>0,05).

Botulinum A toxin treatment is safe and effective for all dystonia types, especially HFS and BFS.

Keywords: Movement disorders, dystonia, Botulinum toxin A