Comparative Evaluation of Intralesional Injection of Botulinum Toxin Type A versus Triamcinolone Acetonide in Treating Post-Burn Pruritus.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Pathological scars resulting from burns can impair both aesthetic and physical functions, often causing chronic pruritus. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of intralesional botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) in reducing pruritus and scar thickness caused by burns.

Methods: This single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients experiencing post-burn pruritus. Patients selected a scar area with the highest degree of pruritus, which was divided into two equal parts. BTX-A was injected into one half and TAC into the other. Pruritus severity was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), the pain was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS), and scar thickness and the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) scores were at four time points.

Results: The study involved 60 patients with a mean age of 35.72 years (range: 21-64 years). The results indicated that BTX-A was more effective than TAC in reducing scar thickness and pruritus. Changes in scar thickness from V1 to V4 demonstrated that BTX-A achieved more significant scar reduction than TAC (P=0.0287), and pruritus severity decreased significantly in the BTX-A group (P=0.0482).

Conclusion: Based on the results, BTX-A treatment is more effective than TAC in reducing pruritus and scar thickness in patients with chronic post-burn pruritus. Further studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods are required to confirm these findings.