Effects of Intradermal Therapy (Mesotherapy) on Bilateral Cervicobrachial Pain

Abstract

Background: Mesotherapy is a procedure or a process of injecting drugs into the skin. This technique can help decrease the total drug dose due to its drug-sparing effect on the systemic route and can be utilized to treat nonspecific neck pain that occurs in the lateral and posterior neck.

Methods: Ten patients with bilateral cervicobrachial pain were recruited and evaluated at T0 before treatments, T1 at the end of the treatment (42 days after T0), and T2 (72 days after T0). Assessments consisted of performing the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate pain evolution; a range of movement (ROM) and Bilateral trapezius' tone, elasticity, and dynamic stiffness mensuration were performed using MyotonPro^®. All patients underwent mesotherapy treatment in the trapezius muscles with 1 cc of Diclofenac Sodium and 1 cc of lidocaine diluted in 3 cc of saline for a total of 6 weeks.

Results: VAS value statistically decreased at T1 and T2; ROM of neck flexion statistically increased at T1 and T2, and miometric tone and stiffness value statistically improved at T1 and T2.

Conclusion: mesotherapy with Diclofenac Sodium reduced pain intensity and improved functional outcomes, with no significant adverse effects in patients with myofascial pain syndrome of cervicobrachial localization.

Keywords: cervicobrachial pain syndrome; local intradermal therapy; mesotherapy; miometric measurement; muscular stiffness; myofascial pain syndrome; range of motion.

Figure 1

Study project. In total, 10/18 patients completed the study.

Figure 2

VAS value at enrollment and 42 and 72 days after. * = statistically significant.

Figure 3

pROM of neck flexion at enrollment and 42 and 72 days. * = statistically significant.

Figure 4

Miometric tone value (Hz) at enrollment and 42 and 72 days. * = statisticaly significant.

Figure 5

Miometric stiffness (N/m) value at enrollment and 42 and 72 days. * = statistically significant.