Consequences of neurologic lesions assessed by Barthel Index after Botox(®) injection may be underestimated

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the consequences of neurologic lesions are underestimated when the Barthel Index (BI) is used to assess the clinical outcome of botulinum toxin injection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records for all in- and outpatients with various neurologic lesions (stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and so forth) who had been referred to the authors’ departments and who had received botulinum toxin type A (Botox(®)) for spasticity within a 4-year period (2008–2011) were examined retrospectively. BI data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The BI score was found to have increased in follow-up assessments (P = 0.048). No correlation was found between the degree of spasticity and the BI score. CONCLUSION: The specific injection of Botox in patients with neurologic lesions was not strongly correlated with a significant functional outcome according to the BI. The results of this study suggest that clinicians need to look at other measurement scales for the assessment of significant outcomes of Botox in the rehabilitation process after neurologic lesions.