INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is defined as a non-progressive neurological condition stemming from a lesion of the immature encephalon, which compromises movements and posture. Spasticity is present in 75% of the cases. This pathology has an incidence of approximately two in every thousand live births and can reach up to seven per thousand in developing countries. The objective of the study was to realize a bibliographic revision through an informed selection and analysis if scientific articles that report the effects of the application of botulinum toxin A in association with physiotherapy in children with spastic cerebral palsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A bibliographic revision was carried out at electronic data bases, MEDLINE, LILACS e SciELO, for the period of 1997 to 2009. The keywords used were "cerebral palsy" and "muscular spasticity" combined with "botulinum toxin type A", "physiotherapy". RESULTS: Adding up all the data bases, a total of 50 articles containing the revision's items of interest were found, though some articles appear in more than one search and in duplication of language. Consequently, 23 articles were used in this study. DISCUSSION: Various studies show that for a greater effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A, it must be associated to a physiotherapeutic program that must always be in accordance to the stages of the motor development of the child. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: According to the bibliographic revision presented, BTX-A associated to physiotherapy for the control of spasticity proved rather effective. However, new studies regarding this matter are necessary.
Cerebral palsy; Spasticity; Botulinum toxin type A; Physiotherapy
