Adrug commonly used by cosmetic surgeons is benefiting patients with severe muscle problems at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Michael Bell, Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultant at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, said: “Botox has been used for a number of years in the treatment of inappropriate muscle activity amongst children with cerebral palsy, with remarkable results. What we aim to do for this group of patients is to carry out muscle treatments in children aged three to four years. This has shown to be much more effective than waiting until children are nine or ten years old.
“The Botox treatments are administered directly into the muscle tissue and work by reducing muscle activity in specific areas injected, and encouraging muscle development in others. In cerebral palsy patients, inappropriate muscle activity around areas such as the hip joints can lead to poor formation of the joint as the child matures. Injecting Botox into specific muscle groups can actually prevent abnormal joint development. Long-term effects of such treatments can help children to develop a more normal gait pattern, significantly improving their quality of life and overall mobility.
“The effects of the drug last for four months but clinical improvement is often for much longer and if necessary treatment can be repeated. Work with the physiotherapist is essential to achieve the best outcomes as specific programmes are needed to build up muscle strength, maintain flexibility and encourage muscle growth.”
Botox is also used in adolescent patients with cerebral palsy to help maintain muscle elasticity during relatively fast periods of growth. The Botox clinics are undertaken at Sheffield Children’s Hospital at Western Bank and also at the Trust’s Ryegate Centre, treating children from across South Yorkshire, South Humber, North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
