PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Burbaud, P
AU  - Wiart, L
AU  - Dubos, J L
AU  - Gaujard, E
AU  - Debelleix, X
AU  - Joseph, P A
AU  - Mazaux, J M
AU  - Bioulac, B
AU  - Barat, M
AU  - Lagueny, A
TI  - A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of botulinum toxin in the treatment of spastic foot in hemiparetic patients.
AID  - 10.1136/jnnp.61.3.265
DP  - 1996 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
PG  - 265--269
VI  - 61
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/61/3/265.short
4100  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/61/3/265.full
SO  - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry1996 Sep 01; 61
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To confirm the apparent effectiveness of botulinum toxin (BTX) in hemiparetic patients with ankle plantar flexors and foot invertor spasticity. METHODS: Twenty three hemiparetic patients with spasticity of the ankle plantar flexors and foot invertors were included in a randomised double blind, placebo controlled study with BTX. Patients were examined on days 0, 30, 90, and 120 and received one injection of BTX and one of placebo in a random order at day 0 and day 90. RESULTS: Patients reported a clear subjective improvement in foot spasticity after BTX (P = 0.0014) but not after placebo. Significant changes were noted in Ashworth scale values for ankle extensors (P < 0.0001) and invertors (P = 0.0002), and for active ankle dorsiflexion (P = 0.0001). Gait velocity was slightly but not significantly (P = 0.0731) improved after BTX injections. The severity of spasticity did not modify treatment efficacy, but BTX was less effective in patients with longer duration of spasticity (P = 0.0081). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of BTX injections in the treatment of spastic foot suggests that BTX may be particularly useful during the first year after a stroke.