Abstract:

Objective  To evaluate the efficiency of 5% compand lidocaine cream on alleviating pain from botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections for bilateral blepharospasm. Design Case-controlled study. Participants 24 patients who were treated with BTX-A  injections for bilateral blepharospasm in Beijing Tongren Hospital were selected from August 2018 to December 2018 and whose previous VAS pain score was not less than 8 without pain intervention. Methods BTX-A injections were given in both eyes of the patients. 5% compand lidocaine cream was applied for 30 minute prior to BTX-A injections on one side (right-left design by random number table, observed side), whereas the other side received BTX-A injections only (control side). Patients completed VAS pain score immediately after injections and were followed up 2 weeks later to observe the side-effects. Main Outcome Measures VAS pain score, side effects. Results The average pain score of all 24 patients was 6.73±1.25 on the observed side and 8.68±0.42 on the control side (P=0.000). All 24 patients experienced no significant side effects during the follow-up period. Conclusion 5% compand lidocaine cream represents a safe and effective means to alleviate pain from botulinum toxin A injections for bilateral blepharospasm patients.

Key words: blepharospasm, compand lidocaine cream, botulinum toxins A, pain