Efficacy and safety of a single botulinum type A toxin complex treatment (Dysport®) for the relief of upper back myofascial pain syndrome: Results from a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre study

Hartmut Göbel, Axel Heinze, Gerhard Reichel, Harald Hefter, Reiner Benecke and on behalf of the Dysport myofascial pain study group

Botulinum type A toxin (BoNT-A) has antinociceptive and muscle-relaxant properties and may help relieve the symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of BoNT-A  (Dysport®) in patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the upper back. Patients with moderate-to-severe myofascial pain syndrome affecting cervical and/or shoulder muscles were randomized to BoNT-A or saline injections which were made into the 10 most tender trigger points. The results showed that BoNT-A resulted in a significantly less pain in all outcomes. The authors conclude that in patients with upper back myofascial pain syndrome, injections of 400 Ipsen units of Dysport® at 10 individualised trigger points significantly improved pain levels 4–6 weeks after treatment.

Pain, Volume 125, Issues 1-2, November 2006, Pages 82-88

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