We aimed to evaluate muscle mass changes after injection of botulinum toxin (BoNT) in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Children aged between 2 and 12 years who were diagnosed with hemiplegic CP with spastic equinus foot were prospectively recruited and administered BoNT in the affected leg. Lean body mass (LBM) of both legs and total limbs was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) preinjection and 4 and 12 weeks after injection. A total of 15 children were enrolled into the study. LBM of both legs and total limbs increased significantly over 12 weeks of growth. The ratio of LBM of the affected leg to total limbs and to the unaffected leg significantly reduced at 4 weeks after injection compared with preinjection but significantly increased at 12 weeks after injection compared with 4 weeks after injection. In conclusion, the muscle mass of the affected leg after BoNT injection in children with hemiplegic spastic CP decreased at 4 weeks after BoNT injection but significantly recovered after 12 weeks after injection.
Keywords: botulinum toxins; cerebral palsy; muscle mass; muscular atrophy; spasticity.