Use of botulinum toxin for treatment of articular pathologies

Abstract

Use of botulinum toxin to obtain a product intended to be administered intramuscular with lissive effect in treating articular pathologies, particularly coxarthrosis, or arthrosis of the hip, epicondylitis of the elbow and rotator muscle cap pathology of the shoulder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention refers to the use of botulin toxin to obtain a product to be used in articular pathologies connected with muscular tensions and contractions, particularly coxarthrosis, or arthrosis of the hip, epicondylitis of the elbow, or rotator muscle cap pathology relating to the periarticular structures of the shoulder. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the state of the art, the name arthrosis is meant as a chronic degenerative arthropathy which primarily affects the articular cartilage and secondly the bone, synovial and capsular component. The progressive rise in the average age of the population and the evolving and disabling character of the disease have together contributed to make arthrosis one of the most frequent diseases, with the greatest impact on society. [0003] To be more exact, due to the continuous stresses to which they are subject, the joints are frequently subject to arthrosis. Arthrosis of the hip, or coxarthrosis, can also be...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] The purpose of the invention is to achieve a product suitable to solve, with a non-invasive method, articular pathologies, particularly coxarthrosis, epicondylitis and rotator muscle cap pathology. This product allows to avoid a surgical operation to section the muscle, or use polluting substances such as cortisone, and to delay as long as possible the application of a prosthesis in order to prevent the need for further replacement operations. Another purpose is to use the product according to the invention so as not to cause discomfort and side effects in the patient, so that the product can easily be used without requiring hospitalization and without the need for particular equipment, and will also be relatively low cost.

[0026] In the specific case of coxarthrosis, the Applicant has verified that the periodic injection of the product to the long adductor muscle and / or the great adductor muscle, the iliopsoas or tensor muscle of the fascia lata, causes a drastic reduction in the pressure exerted by the femoral head against the natural seat, or cotyl, in the hip; this reduction allows a substantially immediate restoration of maximum travel to the hip, with considerable benefits in the autonomous mobility of the joint and a reduction in pain.

[0029] The use of the product according to the invention, injected at muscular level, thus allows to reduce the effort of the muscle concerned, lessening the hyperactivity of the muscles which, if over-active, reduce the possibility of movement determined by the other agonist or antagonist muscles, thus making movement more physiological. Similarly, the reduction of muscular activity diminishes or abolishes the symptoms of pain, in the case of spasms or painful contractures.

[0031] On the contrary, in the case of rotator muscle cap pathology, the use of the product according to the invention is based on the de-contracturing action of the toxin applied, with an electromyographic support, to the rotator muscles involved, which on most occasions is the supraspinal, with the aim of eliminating muscular tension in the insertion seat; this use causes an increase in the subacromial space and allows a better rehabilitation.

[0035] The product according to the invention blocks peripheral cholinergic transmission, preventing the acetylcholine from being released into the synaptic space and hence from linking with the cholinergic postsynaptic receptors. Irrespective of the size of the muscle, the use of the product according to the invention is supported, in many cases, by using an electromyographic guide, which improves the precision of the injection sites.

Problems solved by technology

However, even adopting the arthro-prosthesis has not completely solved the problem connected with coxarthrosis, especially considering the fact that prostheses used at present have an average duration of not more than 10-15 years, which means often the requirement of an operation to remove the old prosthesis and put a new one in.

Such operations are often very complicated, especially when there is a clinical condition which is already problematic, for example in very elderly people.

The causes of this condition are functional stresses and repeated traumas.

Acute symptomology is usually the consequence of an effort and is accompanied by a serious functional limitation of the scapular-humeral joint.