New Review Examines Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin Injections for Preventing Hip Problems in Children with CP

Hip problems are a common concern for children with cerebral palsy (CP), especially those with bilateral CP. More than one-third of children with this form of CP need treatment for hip instability by the age of five. Regular monitoring and early intervention are key to managing these issues.

One treatment option to help with hip stability is Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections, which are meant to relax tight muscles around the hips. But its effectiveness remains unclear.

Eduardo del Rosario, PhD, FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center, reviewed existing research on BoNT-A injections and their effects on hip instability in children with CP. The study, published in the International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, analyzed results from nine different studies where injections were given mainly to the inner thigh muscles and, in most cases, to other hip muscles as well.

The main goal was to see whether the injections made a meaningful difference in how much the hip joint moved out of place over time. A change of 10% or more - either better or worse - was considered significant. Out of all the studies, only two met this mark. One showed that children who received the injections improved by about 10%, while those who didn’t receive them got slightly worse. Another small study showed some positive effects at certain points in time.

Dr. del Rosario concluded that more high-quality studies are needed and should include narrative data from the parents and patients to further our understanding of BoNT-A injections' effects on hip problems among pediatric population with CP.