Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsEdge :

2008 JUL 7 - (NewsRx.com) -- New research, 'Visual Analogue Scale to score the effects of Botulinum Toxin A treatment in children with cerebral palsy in daily clinical practice,' is the subject of a report (see also Cerebral Palsy). "This study examined the reliability and efficiacy of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in evaluating spasticity treatment in an outpatient setting. We used a parent-reported VAS device for evaluating the effects of Botulinum Toxin A (BTX-A)," investigators in Netherlands report.

"Data were collected on 55 children with cerebral palsy. Individual goals of treatment were formulated in close consultation with the caregivers. The categories of treatment options were improvement of pain, problems with nursing, sitting position, standing and walking. Seventy-four interventions were performed in 55 children. A statistically significant effect was found for improvement of nursing, standing and walking. No statistically significant effect for pain was found, probably because of small numbers. In seven children there was no effect at all. Side effects were observed in five children. In using a VAS instrument, beneficial effects were found for nursing, standing and walking after BTX-A treatment. A positive (not significant) correlation was found between the VAS and the Modified Tardieu for those children who also underwent a gait analysis," wrote G.F. Vles and colleagues, University Hospital.

The researchers concluded: "Evaluating spasticity treatment with the use of the VAS has an important advantage because it is a quick and easy method for evaluating individually defined treatment goals in an outpatient setting, in which time-consuming evaluations are not an option."

Vles and colleagues published their study in European Journal of Paediatric Neurology (Visual Analogue Scale to score the effects of Botulinum Toxin A treatment in children with cerebral palsy in daily clinical practice. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 2008;12(3):231-8).

For additional information, contact G.F. Vles, University Hospital Maastricht, Dept. of Child Neurology, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, Netherlands.

The publisher of the European Journal of Paediatric Neurology can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Ltd., the Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, Oxon, England.

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