Botulinum toxin in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: 6-Month follow-up

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2017-09, Vol.96 (39), p.e8133-e8133
• Main Authors: Türk Börü, Ülkü, Duman, Arda, Bölük, Cem, Coşkun Duman, Sanem, Taşdemir, Mustafa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Botulinum Toxins, Type A - administration & dosage; Clinical Trial/Experimental Study; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Injections; Male; Mandibular Nerve; Maxillary Nerve; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular Agents - administration & dosage; Pain Measurement; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome; Trigeminal Neuralgia - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000008133

Botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) has been successfully utilized to treat trigeminal neuralgia. In this study, through the use of a new technique, the efficacy of the injection of BTX-A to the maxillary and mandibular nerves was evaluated. A total of 27 patients were injected with 100 Units of BTX-A to the maxillary and mandibular nerves. Visual analogue scale score and pain frequency were assessed before treatment and at the first week, second month, and sixth month after treatment. Patients with ≥50% reduction in mean pain score at the second and sixth month were defined as responders. A total of 27 patients were included in the study. BTX-A significantly reduced pain intensity and pain attack frequency at the first week, second month, and sixth month after treatment. At the second month, 74.1% of patients, at the sixth month, 88.9% of patients responded to treatment. Forty-four percent of patients did not experience any pain at the sixth month. The mean recurrence period was 87.7 ± 20.4. BTX-A was well tolerated and showed few treatment-related adverse events. Injection to the maxillary and mandibular roots seems to be a highly effective method. In the event of recurrence, after each injection, the pain severity and attack frequency decreased.