Botulinum Toxin Injections for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

July 28, 2011 updated by: University of British Columbia

Botulin Toxin Type A Injections for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Randomized Control Trial

Botulinum toxin type A injected into the anterior and middle scalene muscles will reduce the irritation on the neurovascular structures at the interscalene triangle in subjects with TOS. This will lead to reductions in pain and paresthesias, and improvements in function when compared with injection of placebo.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

To assess the effect of Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A) injections into the scalene muscles on pain, paresthesias and function in subjects with TOS.

Hypothesis:

BTX-A injected into the anterior and middle scalene muscles will reduce the irritation on the neurovascular structures at the interscalene triangle in subjects with TOS. This will lead to reductions in pain and paresthesias, and improvements in function when compared with injection of placebo.

Study design:

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel groups effectiveness trial evaluating changes in pain, paresthesias and function before, at six weeks and four months following injection.

Study population:

Sixty subjects at least eighteen years of age with a clinical diagnosis of TOS of at least three months duration but less than one year, referred to our practice for management of TOS.

Intervention:

Each subject will receive an injection under EMG guidance into the anterior and middle scalene muscles of either 100 units of BTX-A (experimental group), or normal saline (control group). Outcome measures:

The primary outcome measure will be pain as measured on a ten point Numeric Rating Scale with a two point reduction considered significant. Secondary outcomes will be paresthesias as measured on a Numeric Rating Scale, function measured on the Disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

60

Phase

  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z-2G9
        • G F Strong Rehabilitation Centre

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

19 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age at least 19 years
  • Medically stable
  • Able to give informed consent
  • Meets criteria for clinical diagnosis of TOS
  • Symptoms of TOS present for at least three months and less than two year
  • Have had EMG studies and a CT or MRI scan of the cervical spine

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior treatment with BTX-A
  • Allergy to BTX-A
  • History of botulinum toxicity
  • Prior scalenectomy
  • Surgery for TOS planned within four months
  • Use of blood thinners, i.e., warfarin; unfractionated or low molecular weight heparin
  • History of Myasthenia Gravis, Eaton-Lambert Syndrome or Shy-Drager Syndrome
  • Unable to complete follow-up assessments at 6 weeks and 4 months
  • Any abnormalities on EMG, CT or MRI studies suggesting an alternate diagnosis
  • Pregnancy or planned pregnancy within six months

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Botulinum Toxin Type A injection
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating changes in pain, paresthesias, and function in subjects with TOS before, at six weeks, and four months following injection of BTX-A into the scalene muscles and pectoralis minor muscle under EMG guidance.
Botulinum Toxin Type A 100 units injected under EMG guidance one time into the anterior,middle scalenes and pectoralis minor muscle
Other Names:
  • Xeomin
Placebo Comparator: Normal Saline
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating changes in pain, paresthesias, and function in subjects with TOS before, at six weeks, and four months following injection of placebo into the scalene muscles under EMG guidance.
10 cc of Normal Saline will be injected under EMG guidance into the Anterior and Middle Scalenes and Pectoralis Minor muscle of individual diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
Other Names:
  • Saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain
Time Frame: Change from baseline at six weeks and four months
The primary outcome measure will be change in baseline pain as measured on a ten point Numeric Scale and will be assessed at six weeks and four months following injection.
Change from baseline at six weeks and four months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Paresthesias on Numeric Rating Scale
Time Frame: Change from baseline at six weeks and four months
Secondary outcomes will be change from baseline in paresthesias as measured on a Numeric Rating Scale at baseline, six weeks and four months.
Change from baseline at six weeks and four months
Function on DASH scale
Time Frame: change from baseline at 6 weeks and 4 monthss
Secondary outcome will be change from baseline in function on the Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, hand questionnaire at six weeks and at four months.
change from baseline at 6 weeks and 4 monthss

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Heather Finlayson, MD, University of British Columbia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2012

Study Completion (Anticipated)

June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 23, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 28, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

July 29, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

July 29, 2011

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 28, 2011

Last Verified

July 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • H11-00407

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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