Title: A pilot trial of onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of cervicothoracic myofascial pain

Authors: Thomas L. Davis, John Y. Fang, Chandler E. Gill, P. David Charles

Addresses: Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Department of Neurology, Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. ' Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave. South, Suite A-1101 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232-2551, USA. ' Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 1st Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. ' Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Suite A-1106 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232-2551, USA

Abstract: This placebo-controlled crossover trial investigate the safety and efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX, Allergan, Inc.) for the treatment of cervical myofascial pain syndrome (CMPS). A group of subjects with Cervical Dystonia (CD) served as additional controls. A change in diary pain score from baseline to week 3 in placebo vs. onabotulinumtoxinA was the primary outcome measure. Both CMPS and CD subjects showed a trend towards significant pain relief from onabotulinumtoxinA. This suggests that the study was underpowered and that a larger sample size would be necessary in future trials of onabotulinumtoxinA for CMPS.

Keywords: CMPS; cervicothoracic myofascial pain syndrome; BOTOX safety; cervical dystonia; botulinum toxin; cervical myofascial pain syndrome; BOTOX efficacy; onabotulinumtoxinA; pain relief.

DOI: 10.1504/TBJ.2011.041812

The Botulinum Journal, 2011 Vol.2 No.1, pp.6 - 15

Published online: 06 Aug 2011 *

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