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| Primary Author: |
Cole, R.
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| Journal Title: |
Medical Problems of Performing Artists
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| Date Published: |
Dec-91 |
| Language: |
English
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| Category: |
Nervous Disorders
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| Key Words: |
dystonia focal treatment musician botulism |
| Full Citation: |
Cole, R. A., L. G. Cohen, and M. Hallett. Treatment of Musician's Cramp with Botulinum Toxin. Medical Problems of Performing Artists 6, no. 4 (December 1991): 137-43. |
| Full Abstract: |
We studied the effects of botulinum toxin injections in eighteen patients (14 men and 4 women) with musician's crap, which is a focal dystonia of the hand that interferes with performance. Improvement was judged by the patient. Botulinum toxin produced focal weakness in every patient in at least one injection cycle. With the best injection cycle, seven patients had major improvement in musical performance, six had moderate improvement, and two had minor improvement; three had no response to the treatment. The mean total duration of improvement was 11.8 + 8.6 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 14.6 + 12.8 months. During this time, thirteen patients who had initially responded to treatment withdrew from the study because of insufficient response (ten patients) or subsequent failure of the botulinum toxin to produce weakness (three patients). Two of the latter patients demonstrated antibodies against botulinum toxin type A. Despite the initial improvement in many of the patients, only a few have found the injections of sufficient benefit to continue with treatment. |
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