Comparative Evaluation of Intraneuroma and Perineuroma Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection Techniques for Chronic Neuroma Pain After Combat-Related Amputation (IN-PERI NEUROM)

May 30, 2026 updated by: Dmytro Dmytriiev, Ukrainian Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy

Comparative Evaluation of Intraneuroma and Perineuroma Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection Techniques for Chronic Neuroma Pain After Combat-Related Amputation: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Patients with combat-related amputations frequently experience chronic neuroma pain that may interfere with rehabilitation, prosthesis use, mobility, sleep, and quality of life. Ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection has emerged as a potential treatment option for persistent neuroma pain; however, the optimal injection technique remains unclear.

This prospective multicenter study aims to compare two ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injection techniques for chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation: intraneuroma injection and perineuroma injection.

Participants with ultrasound-confirmed painful neuromas will undergo one of the two injection approaches based on the treating physician's clinical decision and local practice. Pain intensity, neuropathic pain characteristics, phantom limb pain, prosthesis tolerance, functional outcomes, and adverse events will be evaluated during follow-up.

The goal of the study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential clinical effectiveness of intraneuroma and perineuroma botulinum toxin type A injection techniques in patients with chronic neuroma pain following combat-related amputation.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Detailed Description

Chronic neuroma pain is a common and disabling complication following combat-related limb trauma and amputation. Persistent neuroma pain may contribute to residual limb pain, phantom limb pain, impaired prosthesis tolerance, reduced mobility, sleep disturbance, and decreased quality of life. Ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection has emerged as a promising treatment option because of its potential effects on peripheral nociceptive signaling, neurogenic inflammation, and neuropathic pain modulation.

However, the optimal injection technique for botulinum toxin administration in painful neuromas remains unclear. Two commonly used approaches include direct intraneuroma injection and perineuroma injection surrounding the neuroma. Intraneuroma injection may provide more direct pharmacological modulation of pathological nerve tissue, whereas perineuroma injection may reduce the risk of mechanical nerve injury while still targeting peripheral sensitization mechanisms.

This prospective multicenter study is designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes associated with intraneuroma and perineuroma ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection techniques in patients with chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation.

Patients with ultrasound-confirmed painful neuromas will undergo ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection using one of the two injection techniques according to local clinical practice and physician decision-making. Clinical follow-up will include assessment of neuroma pain intensity, neuropathic pain characteristics, phantom limb pain, residual limb pain, prosthesis tolerance, analgesic consumption, patient-reported improvement, and adverse events.

The study aims to improve understanding of ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injection strategies for chronic neuroma pain and to identify potential differences in safety and clinical effectiveness between intraneuroma and perineuroma approaches in patients with combat-related amputations.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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 Locations

      • Kyiv, Ukraine, 03143
        • Feofaniya Clinical Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Andrii Khomenko, MD
          • Phone Number: +380937635858
          • Email: farmen@ukr.net
    • Вінницька
      • Vinnytsia, Вінницька, Ukraine, 21000
        • Vinnitsya university hospital
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18 years
  • Combat-related limb amputation
  • Chronic neuroma pain lasting ≥3 months
  • Ultrasound-confirmed painful neuroma
  • Average neuroma pain intensity ≥4/10 on the Numeric Rating Scale
  • Ability to undergo ultrasound-guided injection
  • Stable analgesic regimen for at least 14 days before enrollment
  • Ability to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active infection at or near the injection site
  • Open wound preventing safe injection
  • Previous botulinum toxin injection for neuroma pain within 6 months
  • Previous neuroma surgery within 3 months
  • Known allergy to botulinum toxin type A
  • Coagulopathy or anticoagulation contraindicating injection
  • Severe uncontrolled systemic disease
  • Inability to complete follow-up assessments

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intraneuroma Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection
Ultrasound-guided direct intraneuroma injection of botulinum toxin type A for treatment of chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation.
Ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection performed for treatment of chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation. Two injection techniques will be evaluated: direct intraneuroma injection and perineuroma injection surrounding the neuroma. Procedures will be performed under sterile conditions using high-frequency musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance by clinicians experienced in ultrasound-guided pain interventions.
Other Names:
  • Ultrasound-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection
Experimental: Perineuroma Botulinum Toxin Injection
Ultrasound-guided perineuroma injection of botulinum toxin type A surrounding the neuroma for treatment of chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation.
Ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection performed for treatment of chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation. Two injection techniques will be evaluated: direct intraneuroma injection and perineuroma injection surrounding the neuroma. Procedures will be performed under sterile conditions using high-frequency musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance by clinicians experienced in ultrasound-guided pain interventions.
Other Names:
  • Ultrasound-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in chronic neuroma pain intensity
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 weeks after injection

Change in chronic neuroma pain intensity will be assessed using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Participants will rate their average neuroma-related pain during the previous 7 days on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." The change from baseline NRS score will be calculated at each follow-up assessment.

Scale Information:

Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Minimum Value:

0

Maximum Value:

10 Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater chronic neuroma pain intensity and worse clinical outcomes. Negative change from baseline indicates improvement.

Baseline to 12 weeks after injection

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neuropathic Pain Characteristics Assessed Using the painDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q)
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 and 24 weeks

Neuropathic pain characteristics will be assessed using the painDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q), a validated self-administered questionnaire designed to identify and quantify neuropathic pain symptoms. The questionnaire evaluates sensory descriptors, pain course pattern, and pain radiation. Total scores range from -1 to 38.

Scale Information:

painDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q)

Minimum Value:

-1

Maximum Value:

38

Interpretation:

Higher scores indicate more pronounced neuropathic pain characteristics and a greater likelihood of neuropathic pain.

Clinical Interpretation:

≤12 = Neuropathic pain unlikely 13-18 = Uncertain neuropathic pain component

≥19 = Neuropathic pain likely

Baseline to 12 and 24 weeks
Residual Limb Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 and 24 weeks

Residual limb pain intensity will be assessed using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Participants will rate their average residual limb pain during the previous 7 days on a scale from 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("worst imaginable pain").

Scale Information:

Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Minimum Value: 0 Maximum Value: 10 Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater residual limb pain intensity and worse pain outcomes.

Baseline to 12 and 24 weeks
Prosthesis Tolerance Assessed Using Average Daily Prosthesis Wearing Time
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after amputation or intervention.

Prosthesis tolerance will be assessed by measuring the average daily duration of prosthesis use reported by the participant. Average daily prosthesis wearing time will be recorded as the total number of hours the prosthesis is worn during a typical day.

Measurement:

Average daily prosthesis wearing time

Unit of Measure:

Hours per day (hours/day)

Minimum Value:

0 hours/day

Maximum Value:

24 hours/day Interpretation: Higher values indicate better prosthesis tolerance, greater comfort during use, and improved adaptation to the prosthesis.

Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after amputation or intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Andrii Khomenko, MD, Feofaniya Clinical Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

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 (Estimated)

May 27, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 27, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 30, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data including demographic characteristics, ultrasound findings, neuroma pain intensity scores, neuropathic pain assessments, phantom limb pain measures, residual limb pain outcomes, prosthesis tolerance assessments, adverse events, and follow-up clinical evaluations collected during the study will be available for sharing. The study protocol and statistical analysis plan may also be shared upon reasonable request.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 6 months after publication of the primary study results and ending 5 years after publication.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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