Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin in treating digital ischemia, ulcers, and gangrene.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• 93% complete response in acute digital ischemia, 90% in ulcers, and 88% in gangrene.
• Fastest improvement in acute ischemia (mean 12 days), followed by gangrene (25 days) and ulcers (54 days).
• 91 of 101 patients with ulcers achieved complete reepithelialization.
• Adverse events were uncommon, with transient muscle weakness in 8% and injection site pain in 6%.

Interpretation:

Botulinum toxin shows high efficacy and safety in treating digital ischemia, particularly in autoimmune-related conditions.

Limitations:

• Reliance on small, heterogeneous studies.
• Variation in dosing and injection techniques.
• Incomplete individual-level data for approximately 40% of studies.
• Underpowered subgroup analyses for gangrene.

Conclusion:

Botulinum toxin demonstrates high efficacy and safety in treating digital ischemia, ulcers, and gangrene, especially in autoimmune-mediated disease.

Sources:

• JAMA Dermatology
Source

Based on findings from:

Botulinum Toxin Evaluated in Digital Ischemia

Kathryn Wighton. MDSpire News, 2026.

https://news.mdspire.com/dermatology/articles/botulinum-toxin-evaluated-in-digital-ischemia/

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This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.