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Botulinum toxin type B in piriformis syndrome
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and Hospitals, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|March 27, 2004
Summary
Botulinum toxin type B injections effectively reduced pain in patients with piriformis syndrome, with 95% reporting improvement. This treatment for piriformis syndrome was well-tolerated and showed early efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Management
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
Background:
- Piriformis syndrome is a condition characterized by myofascial pain.
- Effective treatment options for piriformis syndrome remain limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type B (MYOBLOC) for treating piriformis syndrome.
Main Methods:
- An open-label, single-center study involved 20 patients with piriformis syndrome.
- Patients received unilateral or bilateral piriformis muscle injections of 5000 units of botulinum toxin type B under electromyographic guidance.
- Outcomes were assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) scores and investigator ratings.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in buttock, hip, and low back pain were observed at multiple time points post-injection.
- Early onset of pain relief was noted by week 2.
- 95% of patients reported fair to excellent pain improvement, and 90% showed fair to excellent efficacy according to the investigator.
- Botulinum toxin type B was well-tolerated, with dry mouth being the most common adverse event (30% of patients).
Conclusions:
- Botulinum toxin type B shows potential as a beneficial treatment for pain associated with piriformis syndrome.
- The treatment demonstrated early efficacy and a favorable safety profile.