muscle weakness ; botulinum toxin type A ; masseter muscle ; booster injection
Abstract
Botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A) has been applied successfully to treat masseteric hypertrophy. However it can cause muscle weakness. This study was designed to measure the change in maximum bite force(MBF) after BTX-A injection into human masseter muscle and to evaluate the influence of a booster(repeated) injection. Thirty volunteers completed 18-week follow-up and MBF was measured. At 18 weeks after the first injection, a booster injection was given to 14 patients and they were followed up until 18 weeks from the booster injection. The mean MBF was approximately 20% lower at 2 weeks than before the injection, and it recovered gradually after 4 weeks to return to the preinjection level at 12 weeks. The MBF differed significantly between before the injection and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the injection(p<0.05). In booster injection group(n=14),the MBF decreased markedly at 6 weeks(p<0.05),and it recovered gradually in 12 weeks. The MBF was significantly reduced after booster injection of BTX-A into the human masseter muscle. The degree of discomfort experienced by the subjects had little effect on normal mastication.