Pain Reduction With AbobotulinumtoxinA for the Treatment of Hallux Valgus in Adult Participants: Results of a Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Trial

Striatal Toe: Too Harmless to Treat?

A striatal toe is a misalignment of the hallux in dorsal flexion that frequently presents as a symptom of Parkinson's disease and also atypical Parkinson syndromes. It can negatively impact patients during activities such as walking, putting on socks and shoes, and particularly while wearing shoes. It causes pain and thus induces a loss of quality of life. But, to date, we have few data on the topics of the prevalence, genesis, and therapy of striatal toe. Publications available on botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) have demonstrated a positive effect in the treatment of striatal toe, although the current study data are also rather limited in this area. Commensurate approval studies have not yet been performed. We will introduce our contemporary data on therapy for striatal toe with BoNT and we will also discuss possible questions open for further study.

Exploring the Relationship Between Clinical Presentation in Hallux Valgus and Response to AbobotulinumtoxinA Treatment

The relationship between pain/disability and angular deviation of the hallux valgus (HV), and the impact of orthotic use, laterality, and pain variability on treatment outcomes remain unclear. This was explored in post hoc analyses of a placebo-controlled trial of abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A; Dysport®) for HV-associated pain (NCT03569098). The primary endpoint was not met in this study (change from baseline Numeric Pain Rating Scale [NPRS] score vs placebo at week 8); however, there was a greater reduction from baseline in mean NPRS score at week 12 with aboBoNT-A 500U versus placebo (p = .06). Adults with painful HV without surgery were randomized (1:1:1) to aboBoNT-A 300U, aboBoNT-A 500U, or placebo. NPRS was completed for 7 days before baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12. Over-the-counter orthoses were permitted. Participants (N = 186) had a mean [standard deviation, SD] age of 48.2 [13.1] years, 18% (33/186) used orthotics, and 67% (124/186) had bilateral HV. No associations between baseline pain severity and angular deviation were identified. Participants with high pain variability at baseline (SD > 2) had a poorer response to aboBoNT-A treatment than those with less variability. In conclusion, no relationship between HV-related pain/disability and angular deviation was observed. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: A bunion (medical term: hallux valgus) is a common adult foot problem in which the big toe points inward toward the other toes, and this can be painful. How much the big toe points inward (how deformed the foot is) has been linked to the amount of pain the patient experiences. A better understanding of this foot deformity and bunion pain will help doctors and patients to make the right treatment decisions. A study was completed looking at how injections of a type of botulinum toxin (abobotulinumtoxinA) into specific muscles in the foot may help to reduce bunion pain in patients without surgery. This subsequent analysis of the study data looked at the amount of foot deformity in patients, the bunion pain they experienced, and which factors affected how well abobotulinumtoxinA worked to reduce bunion pain. The results of this study showed that the amount of foot deformity was not linked to the level of bunion pain. When deciding the best treatment option to relieve bunion pain, it is important that doctors not only consider how deformed the foot is, but also other important factors such as foot pain levels.