Botulinum toxin treatment for adductor spasmodic dysphonia with EMG and endoscopic guidance

Background & Objective: Spasmodic dysphonia is idiopathic focal dystonia characterized by irregular contractions or postural disorders of the laryngeal muscles, resulting in abnormal speech. Progress in laryngoscopy has resulted in development of a precise technique of botulinum toxin (BTX) injection into the thyroarytenoid muscle under visual control. Methods: We used EMG and endoscopic guidance for BTX injection in adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD). Results: Thirty eight patients with AdSD were injected with BTX in 84 treatment sessions. The voice handicap index (VHI) level of the patients were: severe (73.8%), moderate (26.2%) and mild (none). The average VHI score was 74.6 points. After 8 weeks of BTX treatment, the VHI level was: Severe (3.6%), moderate (10.8%), and mild (85.7%). The average VHI score was 27.7 points. The average values of jitter, shimmer and harmonic to noice ratio (HNR) improved statistically (p < 0.05). The incidence of side effects were: breathiness (17.9%), choking (15.5%); hoarseness (8.5%), and dysphagia (4.7%). Conclusions: Injection of BTX under both EMG and laryngoscopy guidance for treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia is an effective and safe treatment.