Efficacy of antihomotoxic medicine in treatment of cervical miofascial syndrome and shoulder girdle: comparative study versus botulinum toxin type A

Abstract

Introduction: Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a common cause of muscle pain in cervical region and shoulder girdle. Treatment has included conservative means and invasive procedures; conservative means include drugs, modalities of physical therapy, massage and therapeutic exercise; Invasive procedures include dry nedling and trigger point injections of various substances such as botulinum toxin type A, steroids and local anesthetics and even has been reported effective with the injection of complex homeopathic medicines known as antihomotoxic drugs. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the intramuscular injections in trigger points using a Botulinum toxin type A versus antihomotóxic drugs. Materials and Methods: We conducted a pilot study, longitudinal, prospective, randomized and blind, type controlled clinical trial, which included 31 patients with diagnosis of myofascial syndrome of cervical region and shoulder girdle, divided in 3 groups; each group received intramuscular injections in trigger points. One group was treated with botulinum toxin type A with a dose of 10U by trigger point, another group was treated with a combination of antihomotoxic drugs that included a mixture of Traumeel®S, Spascupreel®, Gels Homaccord® y Lymphomyosot® at a rate of 1 ml of this combination by trigger point; the third group received placebo treatment with saline solution at 0.9% at the rate of 1 ml. for trigger point. The three groups were evaluated mobility, muscular strength, pain intensity with EVA, number of trigger points and disability index of the neck at the start of treatment and at 6 weeks. Results: It was observed a decrease of pain and the number of trigger points in the 3 groups, however it was only statistically significant in the group treated with antihomotoxic drugs. Conclusions: The use of antihomotoxic drugs applied by intramuscular injection in the trigger points can be an effective treatment option in patients with cervical myofascial pain syndrome.