Botulinum toxin treatment for tone management (1231)
Key points below
What is botulinum toxin?
Botulinum toxin is a medicine used to weaken and relax a muscle. It is given as a shot (injection) into a muscle. The toxin was made after studying the toxin that causes botulism. It has been used carefully and safely for many years.How is it used?
Botulinum toxin is used to treat many muscle problems like:
- Torticollis.
- Dystonia.
- Toe-walking.
- Spasticity.
It is most commonly used in the elbow, wrist, and finger muscles. It is also used in the back and legs muscles.
It is often used to relax the muscles of children with a brain injury, cerebral palsy, or spinal cord injury. Medicine brand names are Botox®, Xeomin® and Myobloc®.
What does it do?
Botulinum toxin can help:
- Relax tight muscles so that other muscles can get stronger.
- Allow better control over the muscle so a child can learn a new skill.
- Make braces fit better.
- Make it easier to dress, move, or help a child take part in activities.
- Possibly avoid or postpone other surgeries.
- Improve overall function and movement.
How is it done?
The shots may be given in clinic. A numbing cream may be used on the skin so that the needle poke is less painful. Your child will need to be as still as possible. Sometimes the muscles are deep or hard to find or there are a large number of muscles to injection. In these cases the child may need to have anesthesia. The shot would then have to be given at the Surgicenter or in the operating room. To help the doctor know they are in the right muscle:
- A small stimulator may be used to make the muscle move.
- A machine that makes noise when the needle is in a spastic muscle may be used.
What happens after the shot?
- It takes up to 3 weeks for muscles to relax.
- Sometimes the shots for all the muscles that need to relax cannot be given at one time. Other medicines such as phenol may also be used.
- The dose of botulinum toxin given depends on the size of the child. The dose used in each muscle is based on:
- The muscle size.
- The amount of spasticity.
- How much trouble it is causing the child.
- The effect of a shot lasts about 3 months. After 3 months, the shots may be repeated, if it is needed.
- Splints or casts are sometimes used to help stretch a muscle after the shot.
- This medicine is expensive. Most insurance will cover the shots as long as they are pre-authorized.
Who to call
Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Nurse Line 414-266-6631.
For other health and wellness information, check out this resource: https://kidshealth.org/ChildrensWi/en/parents