Trigger point injection therapy in the management of myofascial pain syndrome in the maxillofacial area

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of the trigger points injections in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome in the maxillofacial area. Methods. During the period of 2014-2017 the patients (n=124) with the myofascial pain syndrome (76 women and 48 men, aged 19 to 62 yrs.) have been treated. In addition to clinical and radiological diagnostic methods, all patients underwent electromyography; the pain intensity assessed according to the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS). In order to relieve myofascial pain syndrome, the methods of traditional therapy such as splint therapy, occlusion correction, drug and physiotherapy were used. In the case if traditional methods were ineffective the injections of "Lymphomyosot" and "Traumel S" solutions into trigger points were performed according to the method of J. Kersschot (2010). Control examinations were carried out 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 and 24 months after the manipulation. During the follow-up examinations, attention was paid to the complaints of patients; the pain intensity was assessed by VAS. The criteria for the positive results of treatment were considered to be the absence of pain in resting-state and during functioning. Results. In case of conventional treatment, positive results were obtained in 86 out of 124 patients (69.4%). Trigger point injections performed due to insufficient treatment efficacy in 38 patients resulted in pain relief in 32 (84.2%). As shown by our observations, a long painless period (within two years) was observed in 12 (37.6%) patients. A long-term effect for a period up to one and a half years was fixed in 8 patients (25%), up to 1 year - in 7 patients (21.8%), up to 6 months - in 5 (15.6%). Conclusion. Trigger-point injection has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment modalities to inactivate trigger points, provide prompt relief of symptoms and a long period of remission.