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(Stroke. 2009;40:2589.)
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Letters

Effect of Upper Limb Botulinum Toxin Injections on Impairment, Activity, Participation, and Quality of Life Among Stroke Patients

Gilles D. Caty, MD; Christine Detrembleur, PhD; Corinne Bleyenheuft, MD; Thierry Deltombe, MD Thierry M. Lejeune, MD

From the Université catholique de Louvain (G.D.C., C.D., C.B., T.M.L.), Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Brussels, Belgium; and the Université catholique de Louvain (T.D.), Cliniques universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Yvoir, Belgium.

Correspondence to Professor T.M. Lejeune, Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail Thierry.Lejeune{at}uclouvain.be

Background and Purpose— The purpose of this study was to study the effect of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections in spastic upper limb muscles on impairment, activity, participation and quality of life in chronic stroke patients.

Methods— BoNT-A (Dysport) was injected into several upper limb spastic muscles in a group of 20 patients. Neurological impairment (muscle tone and strength, dexterity, SIAS), activity (ABILHAND), participation (SATIS-Stroke), and quality of life (SF36) were assessed before and 2 months after the injections.

Results— BoNT-A injections improved muscle tone, but had no impact on dexterity, manual ability, social participation, and quality of life.

Conclusions— In this study, BoNT-A injections in spastic upper limbs significantly reduced neurological impairments, but had no functional impact.

Key Words: stroke • arm • spasticity • Botulinum toxins