Content » Vol 36, Issue 5

Does botulinum toxin a make prosthesis use easier for amputees?

Uwe Kern A1, Cochita Martin A2, Sigrun Scheicher A2, Hermann Müller A2
A1 Department of Neurology/Pain Management Deutsche Klinik für Diagnostik Wiesbaden
A2 Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy Städtisches Klinikum Kemperhof Koblenz Germany

DOI: 10.1080/16501970410029771

Abstract

Four post-amputation patients (1 with phantom pain, 3 with stump pain) were each treated with 100 IU botulinum toxin A, divided between several trigger points in the distal stump musculature. In 1 female patient (along with a pronounced reduction in phantom pain) hyperhidrosis of the stump ceased completely, probably after diffusion of the drug into the dermal sweat glands, leading to longer and safer use of the prosthesis. Intentional intradermal injection for this issue therefore could be valuable. Another patient was able to use her prosthesis for the whole day again after botulinum toxin A treatment for substantial stump pain, compared with only 4 hours a day before treatment. In 2 male patients, stump pain while wearing the prosthesis subsided to a considerable extent, 1 of the 2 reported an improvement in steadiness of gait. We suggest that stump treatment with botulinum toxin in rehabilitative medicine should be investigated in more detail.

Lay Abstract

Comments

Do you want to comment on this paper? The comments will show up here and if appropriate the comments will also separately be forwarded to the authors. You need to login/create an account to comment on articles. Click here to login/create an account.