MedPath

Depth of Botulinum Neurotoxin Injection for Treatment of Glabellar Lines

Phase 1
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Glabellar Frown Lines
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT05766683
Lead Sponsor
Henry Ford Health System
Brief Summary

STUDY QUESTION: Does the depth of injection of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin in the glabellar complex affect efficacy of the BoTN for the improvement of glabellar frown lines? STUDY AIM

* Primary objective: Compare the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 2mm vs 4mm for the improvement of glabellar lines

* Secondary objective: Determine any adverse effects of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 2mm vs 4mm

RATIONALE FOR THE PROJECT:

Although the use of BoTN for treatment of glabellar lines has long been established as safe and effective, the optimal depth of injection has not been established. Our project hopes to establish the optimal depth of injection for onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin for maximal improvement of glabellar lines with minimal adverse effects

Detailed Description

STUDY AIM, BACKGROUND, AND DESIGN ABSTRACT

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a safe and effective treatment for numerous conditions in neurology, ophthalmology, dermatology, gastroenterology, psychiatry, and urology. In dermatology, BoNT is commonly used for treatment of facial rhytides and is by far the most frequently performed cosmetic procedure in recent years. In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of BoNT for the treatment of glabellar lines. Although, BoNT has shown excellent safety profile for the treatment of glabellar lines, injection methods vary widely between practitioners and no standardized method for the depth of injection has been established.

The most common treatment area is the glabellar complex, which consists of bilateral corrugator supercilii, depressor supercilii, procerus, and the orbital portion of the orbicularis oculi. With increasing age and repetitive contraction of the glabellar complex, particularly the bilateral corrugator supercilii and procerus, the formation of prominent dynamic glabellar lines and static, etched-in glabellar lines can form and lead to the appearance a more severe frown. In a study using ultrasonographic imaging and the three-dimensional scanning Cho et al. determined that the procerus was located at a depth of 3.8 ± 0.7 mm at the glabella and 2.7 ± 0.6 mm at the sellion while the intercanthal vein was located 3.0 ± 0.6 mm below the skin's surface superior to the sellion. Careful consideration of depth of injection and facial anatomy must be taken to avoid bruising and intravascular injection of BoTN. Additionally, in a cadaveric study looking at depth of corrugator supercilii of 32 Korean hemifaces using 3D scanning, Lee et al. found that the corrugator supercilii muscle rested at a depth of 5.7 +/-1.4 mm medially and 6.6 +/-1.4mm laterally and recommended BoTN injections at the depth of 4mm. However, no in vivo studies have been performed to validate this as the optimal depth of injection. In a split face study evaluating the depth of botulinum injection into the corrugator supercilii muscle no difference in brow height between injecting periosteally versus in superficial dermis. The investigators previously studied the ability of botulinum toxin to diffuse in crow's feet through laser pores into the target muscle. (8)

In our randomized study, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy of BoTN for the treatment of glabellar lines when injected at a depth of 2mm (superficial dermis) versus 4mm (intramuscularly). The investigators hypothesize that no difference exists between the two depths as the 150kD botulinum toxin molecules can easily diffuse to the target at the muscle. If this is validated, patients can be treated with more superficial depths, which will result in less pain and bruising.

STUDY HYPOTHESIS: Depth of injection of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin in the glabellar complex does not affect efficacy of the BoTN for the improvement of glabellar lines.

STUDY AIM

* Primary objective: Compare the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 2mm vs 4mm for the improvement of glabellar lines

* Secondary objective: Determine any adverse effects of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 2mm vs 4mm

RATIONALE FOR THE PROJECT:

Although the use of BoTN for treatment of glabellar lines has long been established as safe and effective, the optimal depth of injection has not been established. Our project hopes to establish the optimal depth of injection for onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin for maximal improvement of glabellar lines with minimal adverse effects.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Patient age 18 and older
  2. Patient able to understand requirements of the study and risks involved
  3. Patient able to sign a consent form
Read More
Exclusion Criteria
  1. A patient who is lactating, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant
  2. Prior history of botulinum neurotoxin treatment of the face within the past one (1) year
  3. History of hypersensitivity to botulinum neurotoxin
  4. History of neuromuscular disorders (e.g., myasthenia gravis)
  5. History of facial surgery or scars in the treatment area that may confound study results
Read More

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
4mm depthonabotulinumtoxinA at a depth of 4mmSubjects will be randomized using computer generated randomization list provided by PHS to receive onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injections in the glabellar complex at depth of 4mm
2mm depthonabotulinumtoxinA at a depth of 2mmSubjects will be randomized using computer generated randomization list provided by PHS to receive onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injections in the glabellar complex at depth of 2mm
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Injection of onabotulinumtoxinA, 4 mm depth120 days

Assess the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 4mm for the improvement of glabellar lines using the Merz aesthetics scales.

The Merz scale is as follows:

0 - no glabellar lines

1- mild glabellar lines 2 - moderate glabellar lines 3 - severe glabellar lines 4 - very severe glabellar lines

Injection of onabotulinumtoxinA, 2 mm depth120 days

Assess the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 2mm for the improvement of glabellar lines using the Merz aesthetics scales.

The Merz scale is as follows:

0 - no glabellar lines

1- mild glabellar lines 2 - moderate glabellar lines 3 - severe glabellar lines 4 - very severe glabellar lines

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Secondary Outcome Measure120 days

Incidence of any adverse effects of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 2mm vs 4mm.

Efficacy comparison120 days

Compare the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA neurotoxin injected at the depth of 2mm vs 4mm for the improvement of glabellar lines using the Merz aesthetics scale.

The Merz scale is as follows:

0 - no glabellar lines

1- mild glabellar lines 2 - moderate glabellar lines 3 - severe glabellar lines 4 - very severe glabellar lines

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Henry Ford Health System

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath