Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42857341›Full record

ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open2026

Pneumothorax Following Botulinum Neurotoxin Injection for Trapezius Hypertrophy.

Shiqi Nong, Yuhao Wang, Jiajie Li, Shuo Liu, Hang Wang

Abstract readCase Reports
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Shiqi NongFrom the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Maxillofacial Plastic, Aesthetic and Trauma Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yuhao WangFrom the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Maxillofacial Plastic, Aesthetic and Trauma Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jiajie LiFrom the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Maxillofacial Plastic, Aesthetic and Trauma Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Shuo LiuFrom the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Maxillofacial Plastic, Aesthetic and Trauma Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Hang WangFrom the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Maxillofacial Plastic, Aesthetic and Trauma Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injection into the trapezius muscle is increasingly performed for aesthetic contouring. However, iatrogenic pneumothorax has not been previously documented for this cosmetic indication, despite the inherent anatomical risks. We report a 26-year-old woman who developed immediate severe radiating pain during bilateral trapezius BoNT type A (BoNT-A) injections using a 4.8-cm, 25-gauge needle. During the injection, the patient experienced immediate severe radiating pain, followed by pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea within 30 minutes. Computed tomography confirmed a 30% left pneumothorax, effectively ruling out systemic botulism. Subsequent ultrasound revealed a skin-to-pleura distance of only 2.27 cm at the injection site, highlighting the stark mismatch with the 4.8-cm needle used. The patient was managed conservatively with high-flow oxygen, achieving complete clinical and radiographic resolution within 1 month. This case underscores that pneumothorax is a real risk with blind injection techniques and overly long needles. To minimize harm, practitioners should adhere to anatomically defined safe zones, select conservative needle lengths, and utilize ultrasound assistance when necessary, particularly for thin patients.

Identifiers

PMID42857341
PMCPMC13652393

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.