Authors' objectives: To assess the effectivity of botulinum toxin type A in chronic miofascial pain treatment.

Authors' results and conclusions: 45 citations and/or abstract, from which 12 were selected to retrieve the whole text. Eventually, 5 articles were included: 3 clinical trials (1 of a good quality and 2 of a low quality), and 2 observational studies of a medium and low quality. A total amount of 132 patients were randomized in three treatment groups (BTx-A a different dose, and control group) in the double-blind, controlled, and with a good quality clinical trial. All groups improved their pain scale, so that no significant differences were found when compared.

Authors' recommendations: Miofascial pain syndrome is one of the most frequent causes for chronic musculo-skeletal pain. Chronic miofascial pain presents a refractory response to conventional treatments. BTx-A is being used as therapeutic alternative for miofascial pain syndrome resisting against other treatments All the studies, backing the use of BTx-A in the treatment of miofascial pain and that have been analysed on this report, present bias that affect their internal validity. The exception is constituted by a clinical trial of a good quality which concludes that BTx-A inyection does not improve cervicothoracic miofascial pain. The use of BTx-A in miofascial pain syndrome can carry adverse effect of a mild or moderate character. The difference between the number of doses administered, the number of times a dose is administered, and the association with other treatments, as physical ;rehabilitation- as pharmacologic ones act as confusing elements to establish the effectivity of the treatment with BTx-A.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.aetsa.org/publicacion/evaluacion-de-la-efectividad-de-la-toxina-botulinica-tipo-a-en-el-tratamiento-del-sindrome-miofascial/

Year Published: 2006

URL for published report: https://www.aetsa.org/download/publicaciones/antiguas/AETSA_P_2006_11_Toxina-BotulinicaA.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Andalusian Health Technology Assessment Area

Contact Address: Area de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias Sanitarias de Andalucia (AETSA) Avda. Innovación, s/n Edificio Arena 1. Sevilla (Spain) Tel. +34 955 006 309

Contact Name: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Contact Email: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Copyright: Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA)