Objective: To determine the effectiveness of repeated intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A to treat Frey syndrome.
Patients: Between January 6, 1999, and July 1, 2005, 22 patients with Frey syndrome (12 men and 10 women) received repeated intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin type A.
Main outcome measures: Before each treatment, the time since the previous treatment; the size of the affected area, as determined by a starch-iodine test; and subjective quantification of symptoms, as assessed by the previously used Frey Questionnaire Card, were recorded.
Results: All patients underwent at least 3 treatments. Univariate analysis of variance showed a significant difference (P <.001) in the between-treatment interval. Univariate analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the size of the affected area in accordance with the number of treatments received (P <.001). The mean Frey Questionnaire Card score also decreased with repeated treatments.
Conclusions: In patients with Frey syndrome, repeated treatment with intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin type A lowered subjective symptom scores, decreased the size of the affected area, and increased the duration of the effect.