title: Usefulness of intra-articular botulinum toxin injections. A systematic review.
abstract: Botulinum toxin is a proven and widely used treatment for numerous conditions characterized by excessive muscular contractions. Recent studies have assessed the analgesic effect of botulinum toxin in joint pain and started to unravel its mechanisms.
  We searched the international literature via the Medline database using the term "intraarticular botulinum toxin injection" combined with any of the following terms: "knee", "ankle", "shoulder", "osteoarthritis", "adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 16 selected articles about intraarticular botulinum toxin injections, 7 were randomized controlled trials done in patients with osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, or chronic pain after joint replacement surgery. Proof of anti-nociceptive effects was obtained in some of these indications and the safety and tolerance profile was satisfactory. The studies are heterogeneous. The comparator was usually a glucocorticoid or a placebo; a single study used hyaluronic acid. Pain intensity was the primary outcome measure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of randomized trials and sample sizes are too small to provide a satisfactory level of scientific evidence or statistical power. Unanswered issues include the effective dosage and the optimal dilution and injection modalities of botulinum toxin.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France; Université Nord de France, 1, rue Lefèvre, 59000 Lille, France; Université catholique de Lille, 60, boulevard Vauban, 59800 Lille, France. Electronic address: Khenioui.Hichem@ghicl.net.
authors.forename: Hichem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khenioui
authors.affiliation: Université Nord de France, 1, rue Lefèvre, 59000 Lille, France; Université catholique de Lille, 60, boulevard Vauban, 59800 Lille, France; Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Houvenagel
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France; Université Nord de France, 1, rue Lefèvre, 59000 Lille, France; Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France; Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, centre de SSR pédiatrique Marc-Sautelet, 10, rue du Petit-Boulevard, 59650 Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France.
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Catanzariti
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France; Université Nord de France, 1, rue Lefèvre, 59000 Lille, France; Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France.
authors.forename: Marc Alexandre
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guyot
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France; Université Nord de France, 1, rue Lefèvre, 59000 Lille, France; Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Agnani
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France; Université Nord de France, 1, rue Lefèvre, 59000 Lille, France; Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier Saint-Philibert, groupe hospitalier de l'institut catholique de Lille, 115, rue du Grand-But, BP 249, 59462 Lomme cedex, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donze
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002062:Bursitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D001905:Botulinum Toxins
keywords: Adhesive capsulitis of shoulder; Botulinum toxin; Intra articular injection; Osteoarthritis; Rheumatology