Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin for Oncologic Pain

Abstract

Introduction: The use of botulinum toxin for medical purposes has expanded nowadays through the extensive study of its complex structure and mechanism of action, highlighting its ability to inhibit the release of acetylcholine, and its impact on the chemical signaling cascade involved in different models of pain.
 Objective: To evaluate the association of the use of botulinum toxin A with the reduction of pain in oncologic patients at Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México.
 Methodology: A retrospective, observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was performed. Data were obtained from patients attended during the period from January 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 in whom botulinum toxin was applied as an adjuvant for pain management.
 Results: Thirty-two patients who met the inclusion criteria were included. After the application of botulinum toxin there was a statistically significant reduction in pain, as measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Verbal Rating Scale. The degree of satisfaction after the application of botulinum toxin was measured by a Likert-type scale, and 68% satisfaction was found in the patients who underwent the onotoxin treatment.
 Conclusions: The use of botulinum toxin proved to be an effective and safe therapy, complementary to the multimodal approach for the treatment of different pain patterns in oncologic patients. It can be considered as a pharmacological option for use in this group of patients.
 Keywords: Oncologic pain, Pain management, Botulinum toxin