Journal of neural transmission
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Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) therapy has gained wide acceptance in the management of spasticity in cerebral palsy (CP). Clinical experience from numerous case reports and series, retrospective and prospective open label cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCT) has grown over the past 10 years. Several independent systematic reviews on the role of BoNT-A for upper and lower limb spasticity have been written by various authors. ⋯ BoNT-A is considered safe for use in children. In conclusion, there is now growing convincing evidence for the time limited beneficial effect of BoNT-A in decreasing muscle tone in children with upper and lower limbs spasticity associated with CP. Decrease muscle tone in the lower limbs translates to improved gait in CP children with spastic equinovarus however more systematic studies are necessary to show sufficient evidence for improved hand function from BoNT-A injection in the upper limbs.