Longitudinal effects of Botox injections on voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) for patients with adductory spasmodic dysphonia: part II.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the longitudinal effects of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections on voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) for patients with adductory spasmodic dysphonia.

DESIGN:

Prospective study.

SETTING:

Academic tertiary care referral center.

PARTICIPANTS:

Forty-two patients who presented to our institution with dysphonia and were diagnosed as having adductory spasmodic dysphonia during a 38-month period.

INTERVENTION:

Patients received Botox injections into both thyroarytenoid muscles via the cricothyroid membrane. The typical starting dose was 1.0 U per vocal fold. If necessary, the dosage was adjusted in subsequent injections to reduce adverse effects or to enhance duration of benefit.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Patients filled out questionnaires, including the V-RQOL Measure and a self-assessed overall voice rating, before each injection. Postinjection questionnaires were completed 6 to 8 weeks after each treatment. Mean pretreatment and posttreatment scores were calculated for each treatment.

RESULTS:

The number of treatments per patient ranged from 1 to 7. Statistically significant improvements in mean total and domain V-RQOL scores were calculated for every injection (P<.01) (no postinjection questionnaires were available for the seventh injections). The magnitude of the effect remained constant for later injections. Eighty-two percent of the population recorded at least 1 category of improvement in overall self-assessed voice rating with each injection.

CONCLUSIONS:

Botox has a significant beneficial effect on V-RQOL for at least 6 injection cycles. This study demonstrates the efficacy of Botox for treating patients with adductory spasmodic dysphonia and further illustrates the usefulness and validity of the V-RQOL Measure in evaluating patients with dysphonia.

• Authors: Adam D Rubin, Walter P Wodchis, Constance Spak, Paul R Kileny, Norman D Hogikyan
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 130 Issue 4 Pg. 415-20 (Apr 2004) ISSN: 0886-4470 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15096423 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Botulinum Toxins, Type A

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Botulinum Toxins, Type A (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Michigan
• Middle Aged
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care
• Patient Satisfaction
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life (psychology)
• Retreatment
• Treatment Outcome
• Vocal Cords (drug effects)
• Voice Disorders (drug therapy)
• Voice Quality (drug effects)