Early results for treatment of unilateral vocal fold palsy with injection medialisation under local anaesthetic

Abstract

AbstractBackground:The diagnosis and treatment of unilateral vocal fold palsy is a common part of otolaryngology practice. In those patients in whom resolution of symptoms is slow, the resulting dysphonia can have a dramatic effect on the patient's quality of voice and life. We have previously described the procedure of direct phonoplasty under local anaesthesia using the transnasal laryngoesophagoscope.Objective:To examine the subjective and objective data for the first five patients to undergo this procedure, in the form of laryngographic speech analysis, perceptual assessment and therapy outcome measures.Results:Analysis showed a statistically significant improvement in voice quality, in all the above assessment categories, following local anaesthetic direct phonoplasty using the transnasal laryngoesophagoscope.Conclusion:Collagen injection via transnasal flexible laryngoesophagoscopy is a particularly useful technique for treating vocal fold medialisation, especially in palliative care patients and those with shortened life expectancy.