The role of mesotherapy in the management of spinal pain. A randomized controlled study.

Background. Mesotherapy is a technique through which active ingredients are administered into the thickness of the skin in order to increase the local analgesic effect. Methods. 141 patients with spinal pain not responding to systemic therapy with NSAIDs were randomized to receive one or more intracutaneous drugs on a weekly basis. Results. All patients achieved a pain reduction of at least 50% compared to baseline, and all tolerated the therapy without having to resort to systemic drug dose increases. Conclusions. The data from our study show that the active ingredients infiltrated into the skin induce a mesodermal modulation between the infiltrated liquid and the cutaneous nervous and cellular structures from which the typical drug-saving effect of mesotherapy arises. Although further studies are needed to establish how to integrate mesotherapy in various clinical settings, it appears to be a useful technique available to the practicing physician. This research is also useful in guiding future clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]