Open AccessBotulinum Toxin A Improved Burning Pain and Allodynia in Two Patients With Spinal Cord Pathology
Author(s) -
Jabbari Bahman,
Maher Neil,
Difazio Marc P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-4637.2003.03013.x
Subject(s) - medicine , allodynia , spinal cord , anesthesia , botulinum toxin , surgery , hyperalgesia , nociception , receptor , psychiatry
Objective. To report the effect of botulinum toxin A in two patients with burning pain and allodynia of spinal cord origin. Design, Setting, Patients. Two patients with spinal cord lesions at the cervical level (tumor and stroke) experienced exquisite skin sensitivity and spontaneous burning pain in dermatomes corresponding to the cord lesions. Botulinum toxin A (Botox ® ) was injected subcutaneously at multiple points (16 to 20 sites, 5 units/site) in the area of burning pain and allodynia. Results. Both patients reported significant improvement in spontaneous burning pain and allodynia in visual analogue scale and clinical measures. The analgesic effect of botulinum toxin A lasted at least 3 months and was sustained over follow‐up periods of 2 and 3 years with repeated administration at 4‐month intervals. Conclusion. Subcutaneous application of botulinum toxin A relieved central burning pain and allodynia in two patients with spinal cord pathology.