Botulinum toxin A for nonambulatory children with cerebral palsy: a double blind randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy and safety of intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) to reduce spasticity and improve comfort and ease of care in nonambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). STUDY DESIGN: Nonambulant children with CP (n = 41; Gross Motor Function Classification System level IV = 3, level V = 38; mean age 7.1 years, range 2.3-16 years, 66% male) were randomly allocated to receive either intramuscular BoNT-A injections (n = 23) or sham procedure (n = 18) combined with therapy. The analysis used generalized estimating equations with primary outcome the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) at 4 weeks postintervention and retention of effects at 16 weeks. Adverse events (AE) were collected at 2, 4, and 16 weeks by a physician masked to group allocation. RESULTS: There were significant between group differences favoring the BoNT-A-treated group on COPM performance at 4 weeks (estimated mean difference 2.2, 95% CI 0.8, 3.5; P = .002) and for COPM satisfaction (estimated mean difference 2.2, 95% CI 0.5, 3.9; P = .01). These effects were retained at 16 weeks for COPM satisfaction (estimated mean difference 1.8, 95% CI 0.1, 3.5; P = .04). There were more mild AE at 4 weeks for the BoNT-A group (P = .002), however, there were no significant between-group differences in the reporting of moderate and serious AE. CONCLUSIONS: In a double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial, intramuscular BoNT-A and therapy were effective for improving ease of care and comfort for nonambulant children with CP. There was no increase in moderate and severe AE in the children who had BoNT-A injections compared with the sham group.

Evaluation of the effects of botulinum toxin A injections when used to improve ease of care and comfort in children with cerebral palsy whom are non-ambulant: a double blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) whom are non-ambulant are at risk of reduced quality of life and poor health status. Severe spasticity leads to discomfort and pain. Carer burden for families is significant. This study aims to determine whether intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) combined with a regime of standard therapy has a positive effect on care and comfort for children with CP whom are non-ambulant (GMFCS IV/V), compared with standard therapy alone (cycle I), and whether repeated injections with the same regime of adjunctive therapy results in greater benefits compared with a single injecting episode (cycle II). The regime of therapy will include serial casting, splinting and/or provision of orthoses, as indicated, combined with four sessions of goal directed occupational therapy or physiotherapy. METHOD/DESIGN: This study is a double blind randomized controlled trial. Forty participants will be recruited. In cycle I, participants will be randomized to either a treatment group who will receive BoNT-A injections into selected upper and/or lower limb muscles, or a control group who will undergo sham injections. Both groups will receive occupational therapy and /or physiotherapy following injections. Groups will be assessed at baseline then compared at 4 and 16 weeks following injections or sham control. Parents, treating clinicians and assessors will be masked to group allocation. In cycle II, all participants will undergo intramuscular BoNT-A injections to selected upper and/or lower limb muscles, followed by therapy.The primary outcome measure will be change in parent ratings in identified areas of concern for their child's care and comfort, using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Secondary measures will include the Care and Comfort Hypertonicity Scale (ease of care), the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire (CP QoL-Child) (quality of life), the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities Questionnaire (CPCHILD©) (health status) and the Paediatric Pain Profile (PPP) (pain). Adverse events will be carefully monitored by a clinician masked to group allocation. DISCUSSION: This paper outlines the theoretical basis, study hypotheses and outcome measures for a trial of BoNT-A injections and therapy for children with non-ambulant CP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry:N12609000360213.