Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Research on Botox for Hip Osteoarthritis
OnabotulinumtoxinA, better known by the brand name Botox, may improve hip function in people with osteoarthritis (OA), according to a study reported in the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine (Volume 42, page 691).
Part of the pain associated with hip arthritis is caused by excessive contraction of hip muscles, and onabotulinumtoxinA has been used successfully to relax contractions and spasms in these muscles in people with other diseases, including cerebral palsy.
To see if this medication could also help with the symptoms of hip arthritis, investigators enrolled 39 patients, average age 68 years, who had hip osteoarthritis confirmed by x-ray. Each participant received a total of 400 units of onabotulinumtoxinA (brand name, Dysport) injected into two hip muscles, the adductor longus and the adductor magnus, and was evaluated two, four, and 12 weeks later.
At each of these points, the treated patients reported significantly less pain, better hip function, and better well-being and quality of life overall. The less pain people had, the better the mobility of the hip joint.
Bottom line: Results from randomized clinical trials involving more patients are needed to confirm these findings before your doctor is likely to recommend Botox for hip osteoarthritis pain.
Posted in Arthritis on February 14, 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
Notify Me
Would you like us to inform you when we post new Arthritis Health Alerts?
