Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to determine whether mesotherapy is effective in treating Chronic Neck Pain (CNP) and to evaluate the effects of superficial trigger point injections with lidocaine versus dry ones.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. Forty-two subjects were recruited and divided into two groups: the Drug Mesotherapy Group (Group A: n=22) who received local microinjections of 1 cc of local anesthetic lidocaine 2% and the Dry Mesotherapy Control Group (Group B: n=20) who received microinjections (performed with a needle) without any drugs (dry mesotherapy). The treatments involved 8 local superficial trigger points of the cervical tract. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Verbal Rating Scale, disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the quality of life using the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12). Data were collected at the baseline (T0), at the end of the treatment program (Tend) and at the three month (T3m) follow up.
Results: Group A treatment significantly reduced pain for VAS at T1 (p=0,000), which rose after the end of treatment at T-follow-up and remained significantly lower than baseline levels (p=0,003). Short-term benefits were also observed in terms of the secondary outcome measures, but the medium-term effects were less significant.
Conclusion: Administration of lidocaine using superficial trigger points mesotherapy is efficacy and well tolerated method for managing chronic neck pain in the short-term.