Özet:

Aim: Aim of this study is to determine socio-demographic and disease features of patients who underwent Botulinum toxin injections, and to present our clinical experience via documenting intervals of Botulinum toxin injections and effect-side effect profiles. Material and Methods: Socio-demographic features of patients and characteristic features of Botulinum toxin treatment were recorded. The diagnosis of the patients who underwent Botulinum toxin injections, disease durations and the onset of Botulinum toxin treatments were investigated. Possible side-effects were recorded. Results: Thirty-two patients (20 men, 12 women) with the diagnosis of various types of movement disorders were enrolled the study. Mean age of patients was 60.65±14.40 years (range= 22-83 years). Diagnosis of the patients who underwent Botulinum toxin injections were cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, clonic hemifacial spasm, focal hand dystonia/writer’s cramp, oromandibular dystonia, and dystonic tremor. All patients had repetitive Botulinum toxin injections. There were no remarkable adverse effects, other than mild temporary bruises in injection site in two patients with blepharospasm. Conclusion: Botulinum toxin is an important treatment option in patients with focal dystonia. Botulinum toxin as a neurotoxin of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, suppresses muscle contractions via inhibiting acetylcholine release to the synaptic gap. This reversible effect lasts three to four months due to the neuronal sprouting. It is important to share clinical experiences, data of Botulinum toxin outpatient clinics or clinics from the movement disorders perspective to increase awareness of Botulinum toxin effectivity in patients with movement disorders, focal dystonia particularly.