Effect of rehabilitation training combined with botulinum toxin type A on the degree of spasm and gross motor ability in spastic cerebral palsy children

Objective To investigate the effect of rehabilitation training combined with botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on spastic degree and gross motor ability in spastic cerebral palsy children. Methods Seventy-two children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into study group (n=36) and control group (n=36). The study group was treated by BTX-A and rehabilitation training, the control group was only treated by rehabilitation training, they were followed up in 1, 3 and 6 months after intervention. The spastic degree (CSS), gross motor ability (GMFM), gait and posture (PRS) score of the two groups were compared before and after intervention. Results There was no significant difference in CSS scores between the two groups before intervention(P>0.05); at the 1st, 3rd, 6th after intervention, the CSS scores of the study group were lower than those of the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P 0.05); in 1, 3 and 6 months after intervention, the GMFM scores of the study group were higher than those of the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P 0.05); in 1, 3 and 6 months after intervention, the PRS scores of the study group were higher than those of the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Botulinum toxin type A and rehabilitation training can effectively improve the spastic degree, posture and gait function in spastic cerebral palsy children, and improve gross motor ability. Key words: Rehabilitation training; Botulinum toxin type A; Spastic cerebral palsy; Spastic degree; Gross motor ability