[Botulinum toxin in the treatment of focal dystonias: own experience with botulinum toxin].

During the last 5 years, 75 patients with focal dystonias were longitudinally treated with injections of botulinum toxin A. Each patient received 2-6 injections. The improvement was assessed after each injection and estimated as significant after 68.47% of injections, as mediocre after 23.42% of injections and none after 8.11% of the injections. The most significant improvement was obtained in patients with blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm, the worst effect was obtained in spasmodic torticollis. Varying responses were observed following repeated injections of botulinum toxin, the clinically assessed improvement did not decrease after successively applied doses. Side-effects occurred after 18% of the injections and were mostly mild and disappeared after short time. This study confirms the usefulness of botulinum toxin, which is an effective and safe treatment of focal dystonias.