Required material:
• 100 IU of botulinum toxin A (BTA) diluted in 6 mL of saline solution, the solution should be gently mixed to prevent protein denaturation.
• Infiltration needle
• Ultrasound device
• A nerve-stimulator
Botulinum toxin infiltration will be performed under sedation. Once the patient is sedated, we will conduct an examination to locate the trigger points to be injected.
Internal Obturator Muscle:
To examine the internal obturator, the index finger is inserted into the vagina and directed anterolaterally. Using a pincer movement, the thumb palpates the obturator foramen. At the level of the clitoris, the muscle can be found. To insert the needle, it is positioned at the clitoral level, near the inguinal fold, and directed laterally. The correct needle placement should be verified using both a nerve stimulator and ultrasound.
Ultrasound verification: The transducer is placed in a parasagittal plane at the inguinal fold, over the anterior pubic ramus.
Nerve-stimulator verification: The power is gradually increased from 0.02 to 1 MHz, allowing for palpation of muscle excitation during the examination.
Once verified, the botulinum toxine is administered. To ensure effective distribution of the medication, 1 cc of saline solution can be injected.
Puborectalis Muscle:
To examine the puborectalis muscle, the finger is inserted into the vagina and moved laterally. Posterolateral pressure is applied to locate the trigger points.
For injection, once the muscle is located, the needle is inserted 1 cm lateral to the perineal body and directed medially towards the vagina. As mentioned earlier, correct needle placement should be verified using nerve stimulation and ultrasound. In this case, the transducer should be placed over the vaginal introitus, and with a lateral sweeping motion, the needle can be located. After proper verification, the medication will be administered.
Post-Procedure Care:
After completing the infiltration, the patient is awakened and remains under observation for two hours. One of the most common side effects of the injection is mild pain during the week following the procedure. Follow-up evaluations will be conducted at one month, three months, and six months to assess effectiveness and potential improvement using the previously mentioned questionnaires.