How Can Botox Injections Help a Child With Cerebral Palsy?

 Posted on December 18, 2020 in Cerebral Palsy

Since cerebral palsy (CP) can affect a child in many different ways, parents will no doubt be considering everything they can to address these ongoing health concerns and ensure that their child receives treatment that will allow him or her to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Botox injections are one treatment that has been used to address muscle spasticity, stiffness, and pain. In addition, they may help children with CP improve their ability to walk and increase their range of motion.

Using Botox to Treat Spasticity

Botulinum toxin has a variety of medical uses, and under the brand name Botox, it is most well-known for its cosmetic uses to decrease facial wrinkles. When injected into the muscles, Botox can cause partial paralysis and weaken muscle movements. This can reduce muscle spasms, and it can help children gain more control over their movements while also addressing the pain caused by muscle tightness and spasticity.

While most forms of Botox have not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of cerebral palsy symptoms, the drug Dysport has been approved to treat lower limb spasticity in children who are at least 2 years old. Doctors are also allowed to use Botox for “off-label” purposes, although in these cases, they should make sure parents are aware of the potential side effects. While these side effects are rare, they may include general weakness in the body’s muscles, double vision, difficulty swallowing, speech problems, urinary incontinence, or problems with breathing.

Botox injections have been found to improve children’s balance, make it easier for them to stretch muscles, decrease instances of tripping or falling, and provide them with increased endurance when exercising the muscles. The effects of botox injections are temporary, lasting a few months, and additional injections may be administered when needed. Botox injections are usually used alongside other treatments, such as physical therapy, leg braces, or surgery to lengthen muscles or tendons. With the right combination of treatments, children can often gain more control over their muscle movements and improve their ability to walk and use other gross motor functions.

Contact Our Chicago Cerebral Palsy Injury Attorneys

Parents will want to make sure their children receive the treatment that will help them manage the symptoms of cerebral palsy and function as well as possible as they grow and develop. Unfortunately, the costs of these treatments can be high, and parents may struggle to provide the care their children need. At the Birth Injury Law Alliance, we work with parents to help them understand the forms of financial assistance that are available to children with cerebral palsy, including determining whether they can pursue compensation for injuries that occurred during a child’s birth. To set up a complimentary consultation, call our Cook County birth injury lawyers at 312-462-4200.

Sources:

https://www.rchsd.org/programs-services/cerebral-palsy-center/services/botox-treatment-for-spasticity/

https://www.nyp.org/newsletters/prof-adv/rehab/cerebral-palsy-the-benefit-of-multilevel-botox-injections

https://cerebralpalsynewstoday.com/2018/09/12/children-with-spastic-cp-helped-3-months-botox-study/