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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Facial Nerve Axotomy in Mice: A Model to Study Motoneuron Response to Injury
Published on: February 23, 2015
[Influence of botulinum toxin on myogenous facial pain]
H Seedorf1, R Leuwer, A Bussopulos
1Abteilung für zahnärztliche Prothetik, Klinik und Poliklinik für Zahn- Mund- und Kieferheilkunde der Univ.-Klinikums Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg. seedorf@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Objective:
Can chronic pain of the masticatory muscles be positively affected by low dose injection of botulinum toxin (BTX-A)?
Methods:
Twenty patients suffering chronic myofacial pain were questioned and examined after injection of 25-50 U Dysport into the affected muscles over a period of 8 weeks.
Results:
Four weeks after injection of BTX-A patients reported a significant reduction of pain (p <0.001, paired t-test. Power of performed test with alpha 0.050:1.000). Then the pain remained constant over the next 4 weeks. Concurrently a significant increase of mandubular range of movement was observed (p <0,05, Wilcoxon signed rank test).
Conclusions:
Even though lacking placebo control the findings suggest that patients suffering chronic myofacial pain may benefit from injection of low dose BTX-A into the affected muscles.
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