Study analyses beneit of digital image speckle correlation in optimising botulinum toxin treatment

The beneits of using digital image speckle correlation to determine optimal botulinum toxin type A injection sites has been demonstrated in a study published in the June issue of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery.

As part of the prospective, randomised, crossover trial, 10 female patients were randomised to either injections based on digital image speckle correlation analysis or to physician assessment based on the 2004 facial aesthetics consensus recommendations. All patients received 20U of botulinum toxin type A in the glabellar region and were crossed over and reinjected ater six months.

On average, the digital image speckle correlation analysis provided 4.8 injection sites, whereas the practitioner chose ive injection sites. Patients receiving digital image–directed injections had higher rates of satisfaction on the Facial Line Outcomes instrument (p = 0.0003) and a larger degree of paralysis (p = 0.003). Furthermore, muscle function returned to normal later in patients injected with digital image speckle correlation (17.9 weeks versus 20 weeks; p = 0.03).