title: Efficacy of mesotherapy using drugs versus normal saline solution in chronic spinal pain: a retrospective study.
abstract: Mesotherapy, or intradermal therapy, is a therapeutic approach that is gaining popularity, but there is still a significant lack of information on its mechanisms of action or the pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic regimens. This retrospective study on 220 records compared the short-term and long-term effects of mesotherapy using a mixture of drugs versus normal saline solution in the treatment of patients with chronic spinal pain (CSP). At the end of treatment, outcome measures showed a significant improvement (P<0.003) in both groups, which persisted at the follow-up assessments. At 12 weeks of follow-up, the improvement was significantly greater in patients treated with the drug cocktail than with the saline solution (P<0.05). Mesotherapy was effective in patients affected by CSP, with high patient satisfaction reported irrespective of the agent used. Considering the risks and costs of drugs, normal saline solution appears to be the best agent in cost-benefit terms for treating localized pain by mesotherapy in CSP.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Teaching Hospital Foundation 'Agostino Gemelli', Catholic University of Sacred Heart bDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome cDepartment of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Scientific Institute of Lissone MB, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Lissone MB, Italy dDepartment of Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
authors.forename: Paola E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronconi
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viscito
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pascuzzo
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosulescu
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ljoka
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferriero
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foti
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D057748:Mesotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008012:Lidocaine; D008239:Lysine; D001241:Aspirin; C010395:acetylsalicylic acid lysinate