[Own experience with botulinum treatment of dystonia]

Fifty-five patients were treated with botulin injections into the muscles showing dystonia, contracture or tremor. Twenty two of them had torticollis, 21 had blepharospasm, 10 had hemifacial spasm, and 2 had tremor. In all, 112 injections were done with good result in 64%, slight effect in 27% and without effect in 9% of the cases. Similar results have been reported from other centers in the world. Adverse effects were not significant and disappeared after several days or weeks. They included ptosis, speech and deglutition disturbances, general weakness and neurotic reactions. These adverse effects developed in 12 cases. In cases of tremor the dose as well as the technique of injections must be individualized. The method is an important therapeutic advance and can be applied in outpatient clinics.