Botulinum toxin a improved burning pain and allodynia in two patients with spinal cord pathology.
OBJECTIVE
To report the effect of botulinum toxin A in two patients with burning pain and allodynia of spinal cord origin.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous application of botulinum toxin A relieved central burning pain and allodynia in two patients with spinal cord pathology.
Jabbari
Bahman
B
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA. bjabbari@mxa.usuh.mil
Maher
Neil
N
Difazio
Marc P
MP
D000328:Adult; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A