Intracordal Injection of Teflon® in the Treatment of 135 Patients with Dysphonia

Abstract

The correction of paralytic dysphonia is primarily a mechanical problem requiring movement of the paralyzed vocal cord to the midline so that the functioning cord can meet it and effectively close the glottis. Intracordal Teflon@ injection is now the treatment of choice. This paper reviews 135 patients who received Teflon@ injections of the vocal cord durin the last five years. Ei hty one percent of the patients with dysphonia recovered a normal sotd phonatory voice a n b 9f3% were clinically improved at least one step. Pure laryngeal paralysis was virtually always improved, usually to a normal phonatory voice. Although some patients with hoarseness after surgical or blunt trauma were improved, the results were not as consistent. Aspiration was decreased or eliminated in the majority of patients unless there was too much laryngeal scarring to permit vocal cord repositionment or unless multiple cranial nerve or cerebellum deficits were present.

Textured polydimethylsiloxane elastomers in the human larynx: Safety and efficiency of use

“…15 The effectiveness of an injectable 50/50 mixture consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and glycerol in treating paralytic dysphonia has been reported. [16][17][18] Injection of polytetrafluoroethylene is followed by a marked chronic inflammatory reaction, with fibrosis contributing to the mass effect. This may result in stiffness of the injected vocal fold, a condition leading inevitably to poor voice quality.…”

Recent Advances in Phonosurgery

“…The effectiveness of Teflon injection in the treatment of paralytic dysphonia has been demonstrated univocally by many investigators (Arnold, 1962;Lewy, 1963Lewy, , 1966Lewy, , 1976Goff. 1969;Rubin, 1975;von Jeden et al, 1967;Saito, 1977;Fukuda, 1970;Stone and Arnold, 1967;Dedo et al. 1973;Riska et al, 1973;Fritzell et al, 1974;Rontal et al, 1975\Hirano, 1975.…”

“…It is almost unanimously advised by surgeons not to inject (1) too much, (2) too close to the vocal cord margin and (3) too deeply or too superficially. It is also generally agreed that the results are not so satisfactory for vocal cord atrophy, corrugated vocal cord (sulcus vocalis), and scarred cord after trauma or irradiation (Dedo et al, 1973. Hirano.…”

The Use of Botox in the Treatment of Post Cardiac Surgery Paradoxical Vocal Cord Movement

“…In addition to post cardiac surgery PVCM, accepted indications for Teflon and antogenous fat injections include unilateral vocal cord paralysis, vocal cord volume defect, glottic incompetence following laryngeal surgery and arytenoidectomy [6]. In general, bilateral vocal cords abnormalities are considered contraindications for vocal cords injections [6].…”