Effectiveness of botulinum toxin in the treatment of spasmodic torticollis

Thirty-two patients with spasmodic torticollis were assessed quantitatively for posture deformity, tremor and range of neck movement, and qualitatively for pain and global subjective disability. All patients were then treated with intramuscular botulinum toxin injections into appropriate neck muscles. Fifty-three treatments were administered using dosages of toxin in the range of 50-100 U per muscle. The maximum dose administered at a single sitting was 280 U. The progress of the patients was assessed during an 18-month period. Seventy-five percent of patients showed documented improvement in both subjective and objective parameters and were considered treatment successes. Pain improved in 65%, posture in 65%, tremor in 50% and range in 46%. The side effects that occurred were transient and included fatigue, dysphagia, neck weakness, hoarseness and local pain. This study demonstrates that treatment with botulinum toxin is of significant benefit for the majority of patients with spasmodic torticollis.