Subcutaneous botulinum toxin in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain

• Published in: Rehabilitacion Vol. 53; no. 2; p. 131
• Main Authors: Puentes Gutiérrez, A B, García Bascones, M, Puentes Gutiérrez, R, Díaz Jiménez, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Botulinum Toxins, Type A - administration & dosage; Chronic Pain - drug therapy; Female; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Neuralgia - diet therapy; Neuromuscular Agents - administration & dosage; Peripheral Nerves; Allodynia; Botulinum toxin type A; Meralgia parestésica; Scar; Hiperalgesia; Cicatriz; Infiltración subcutánea; Dolor neuropático; Subcutaneous injection; Hyperalgesia; Neuropathic pain; Alodinia; Toxina botulínica tipo A; Meralgia paraesthetica
• ISSN: 1578-3278
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rh.2018.12.002

Neuropathic pain impairs quality of life in affected individuals and poses a challenge to clinicians due to the complexity of its treatment and frequent therapeutic failures. We present 4clinical cases of chronic neuropathic pain (LANSS ≥ 19), refractory to conservative treatment (meralgia paraesthetica, post-surgical pain and 2surgical scars). Subcutaneous botulinum toxin type A was infiltrated periodically over the painful area. All patients experienced subjective improvement in pain and improvement measured by the visual analogic scale. Pain relief started at 5-21 days and continued up to 1.5-3 months, and up to 9 months in one patient. Pain that reappeared was of lower intensity in 3patients and was reduced in area in 2patients.