Pearls and Pitfalls in the Therapeutic Use of Botulinum Toxin

A. Gordon Smith

doi:10.1055/s-2004-830902

Seminars in Neurology, Table of Contents

Semin Neurol 2004; 24(2): 165-174
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830902

Pearls and Pitfalls in the Therapeutic Use of Botulinum Toxin

A. Gordon Smith¹

¹Associate Professor of Neurology and Pathology, Director, Therapeutic Botulinum Toxin Clinic, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

Abstract

Botulinum toxin is a potent toxin and powerful therapeutic tool. Botulinum toxin has therapeutic application in the treatment of a host of neurological, ophthalmologic, gastroenterological, urologic, and dermatologic conditions. Although there are issues specific to each disorder for which botulinum toxin therapy is employed, there are several common principles. This article reviews several of these general principles by addressing common questions that arise in the therapeutic use of botulinum toxin. Areas of focus include patient selection, drug preparation and delivery, use of electromyography to guide injections, drug resistance, and organization of a therapeutic botulinum toxin clinic.

KEYWORDS

Botulinum toxin - dystonia - therapy

Full Text

References

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A. Gordon SmithM.D.

Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East

SOM Room 3R152, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2305