Does botulinum toxin A make prosthesis use easier for amputees?

Four post-amputation patients (1 with phantom pain, 3 with stump pain) were each treated with 100 IU botulinum toxin A, divided between several trigger points in the distal stump musculature. In 1 female patient (along with a pronounced reduction in phantom pain) hyperhidrosis of the stump ceased completely, probably after diffusion of the drug into the dermal sweat glands, leading to longer and safer use of the prosthesis. Intentional intradermal injection for this issue therefore could be valuable.

Effects of botulinum toxin type B on stump pain and involuntary movements of the stump.

Patients who had previously undergone amputation of the arm (n = 2) or leg (n = 2) were treated with botulinum toxin type B injections at several trigger points of their stump musculature. We administered a total dose of 2500 IU of botulinum toxin type B (Neurobloc, Elan Pharma, Munich, Germany) to the arm amputation stumps, 5000 IU for one amputation of the lower leg, and 2500 IU to the other lower leg amputation of a patient with a very low baseline body weight. Two patients reported that the injection was very painful.