Botox Soothes Writer's Cramp

70% of patients reported major improvement, Dutch study found.

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter
Thursday, December 21, 2006; 12:00 AM

Copyright © 2006 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

THURSDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Already hailed for its wrinkling-erasing properties, Botox is now being touted as an effective treatment for writer's cramp, too.

"This study provides ample evidence for the beneficial effect of Botulinum toxin injections on writer's cramp," said study lead author Dr. Jose Kruisdijk, of the department of neurology at Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

"The injections with Botulinum toxin can be given by a neurologist or other medical specialist who has gained some experience with this treatment," Kruisdijk added.

Outside experts urged caution. "The study does show some evidence of efficacy, but it's a relatively small study, and it's only one paper, so it's hard to make a generalization," said Dr. Robert A. Weber, associate professor of surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and chief of the Section of Hand Surgery at Scott & White Hospital.

Writer's cramp refers to involuntary muscle contractions of the fingers, hand or arm while writing or performing other manual tasks. In one quarter of cases, the condition affects both hands. Overall, writer's cramp affects three to seven of every 100,000 people, a relatively small proportion, but it can negatively affect work, self-esteem and social life, the study authors stated.

Weber had one patient who was a first-chair violinist who watched in horror when her hand drew back and her bow dropped in the middle of a solo. Other patients can only use their hands for a few minutes before the writer's cramp sets in.

There are no effective drugs to treat writer's cramp, and other therapies, including relaxation, hypnosis, biofeedback and acupuncture, have had only limited success.

Botulinum toxin type A is a protein complex produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and contains the same toxin that causes food poisoning. But sterile, purified botulin toxin in small doses also blocks the release of acetylcholine, a chemical produced by nerve cells that signals muscles to contract.