Botulin toxin in Orthopaedics

What is Botulin toxin?

Botulin toxin is a protein that only occurs naturally in certain bacteria. This protein is isolated from bacterial cultures for medicinal purposes and is administered to the affected muscles by injection.

Botulin toxin weakens the nerve signals responsible for muscle contraction and so leads to a relaxation of the muscles. The treatment requires only a very small quantity. The correct dose is adjusted individually for each patient and is the result of scientific investigations in which the dose limit is determined.

The botulin toxin takes effect in about a week to ten days after administration. The treated muscle is relaxed for about three to four months after the injection. The effect can last for longer in some cases. The injection can be repeated when the effect of the botulin toxin wears off. However, there should be at least twelve weeks between administrations.

What orthopaedic symptoms does Dr. Klotz use botulin toxin for?

Botulin toxin can be used in neuro-muscular disorders like cerebral palsy or stroke, particularly those associated with increased muscle tone. The targeted muscle can be weakened, and muscle imbalance corrected using botulin toxin A. This can be done both at the upper and lower limbs and also on the torso and neck.

The most common symptoms that Dr. Klotz uses botulin toxin A injections for include:

• Infantile cerebral palsy
• Spina bifida
• Hereditary spastic paraplegia
• Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN: e.g., Charcot Marie Tooth disease)
• Spasmodic torticollis

It has been scientifically proven that the development of deformities can be reduced and mobility and thus independence can be improved using botulin toxin. This means that any upcoming operations can be postponed or even avoided. Botulin toxin thus represents an effective treatment procedure for increasing the quality of life.

In addition, Dr. Klotz uses botulin toxin for chronic pain and selected inflammatory muscular-skeletal diseases, which many studies have proved to be effective. These include the following diseases:

• Tennis and Golf elbow (epicondylitis humeri ulnaris/ radialis)
• Heel spurs with plantar fasciitis
• Chronic back pain

Possible side-effects

As with all medication, there are also possible side-effects with botulin toxin. These may occur, although not to the same degree for all patients. Injection with botulin toxin may lead to muscle weakness, pain at the point of injection, or difficulty swallowing.

 Botulin toxin treatment is not usually covered by statutory health insurance companies. 

Dr. Klotz has many years of experience in application of this treatment.

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