[Evaluation of 2 invasive techniques for treating myofascial pain]

To assess the efficacy of 2 invasive techniques for treating myofascial pain: trigger point acupuncture and 1% lidocaine infiltration of trigger points.

Patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized to 2 groups for evaluation at our pain clinic over a period of 7 months. Each patient had 4 treatment sessions. Response was evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS) and by means of the Lattinen test.

Twenty-one patients were enrolled. Eleven underwent acupuncture and 10 received lidocaine infiltrations. When post-treatment pain was assessed, the mean (SD) VAS scores fell from 5.50 (2.08) to 2.45 (2.05) in the acupuncture group and from 4.8 (2.03) to 2.2 (1.91) in the lidocaine group. Lattinen test scores also fell, from 10.63 (2.69) to 8.54 (3.14) in the acupuncture group and from 10.9 (1.59) to 8.60 (2.63) in the lidocaine group. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 treatment groups.

Both acupuncture and lidocaine infiltration of trigger points were effective in reducing pain intensity after treatment and in improving quality of life. One method could not be shown to be better than the other for treating myofascial pain.