Efficacy of skin cooling and EMLA cream application for pain relief of periocular botulinum toxin injection.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of EMLA cream and local dry cold application for pain relief before periocular botulinum toxin injection, and to compare these two methods.


METHODS
In this prospective study, 40 patients underwent bilateral periocular botulinum injections for blepharospasm treatment or wrinkle reduction. Patients were divided into three treatment groups. In the first group (n = 12), cold was applied to the periocular area on one side before injection; the other side served as the control. In the second group (n = 12), topical anesthetic cream (EMLA) was applied to one side and the other side served as the control. In the third group (n = 16), cold was applied to one side and EMLA was applied to the other side. A visual analog scale was used for pain intensity, and patients in the third group were asked which treatment they preferred.


RESULTS
In the first group, the average pain score on the side where cold was applied was 3.00 +/- 1.70, whereas it was 5.83 +/- 1.40 on the control side (p < 0.001). In the second group, the average pain score on the side receiving EMLA was 3.25 +/- 1.86, and on the control side was 5.83 +/- 1.89 (p < 0.001). In the third group, the average pain score was 3.18 +/- 1.68 for the EMLA side and 3.12 +/- 1.31 for the cooled side (p > 0.05); nine of the 16 patients (56.2%) preferred EMLA.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin cooling and EMLA applications significantly decrease the pain associated with periocular botulinum toxin injections. Clinically or statistically significant difference in pain scores between the two methods was not noted. Patients had a slight preference for EMLA cream over skin cooling.
Elibol
Orhan
O
Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Ophthalmology Department, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Ozkan
Berna
B
Hekimhan
Pelin Kaynak
PK
Cağlar
Yusuf
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000188:drug therapy; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007267:Injections; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D012881:Skin Temperature
D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A