Effect of upper limb botulinum toxin injections on impairment, activity, participation, and quality of life among stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to study the effect of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections in spastic upper limb muscles on impairment, activity, participation and quality of life in chronic stroke patients. METHODS BoNT-A (Dysport) was injected into several upper limb spastic muscles in a group of 20 patients. Neurological impairment (muscle tone and strength, dexterity, SIAS), activity (ABILHAND), participation (SATIS-Stroke), and quality of life (SF36) were assessed before and 2 months after the injections. RESULTS BoNT-A injections improved muscle tone, but had no impact on dexterity, manual ability, social participation, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS In this study, BoNT-A injections in spastic upper limbs significantly reduced neurological impairments, but had no functional impact.