Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Laryngorhinootologie 2022; 101(S 02): S178-S179
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1746450
Abstracts | DGHNOKHC
Aerodigestive tract / Laryngology: Larynx

Electrostimulation of the internal branch of supralaryngeal nerve (iSLN) or thyroarytenoid/lateral cricoarytenoid muscles (TA/LCA) for the treatment of spasmodic dysphonia and voice tremor

Authors

  • Berit Schneider-Stickler

    1   Medizinische Universität Wien, Univ.-HNO-Klinik / Klin. Abteilung Phoniatrie-Logopädie Wien, Austria

  • Matthais Leonhard

    1   Medizinische Universität Wien, Univ.-HNO-Klinik / Klin. Abteilung Phoniatrie-Logopädie Wien, Austria

  • Guan-Yuh Ho

    2   Medizinische Universität Wien, Univ.HNO-Klinik/Klin. Abteilung Phoniatrie-Logopädie Wien, Austria

  • Tadeus Nawka

    3   Charité Universitätsmedizin, Klinische Abteilung Phoniatrie-Logopädie, Berlin

  • Ines Kansy

    4   Medizinische Universität Wien, Klinische Abteilung Phoniatrie-Logopädie Wien, Austria

  • Fabian Volk

    5   Medizinische Universität Jena, Univ.-HNO,-KlinikJena
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Introduction Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) and voice tremor (VT) are rare forms of neurolaryngeal disorders, generally of idiopathic etiology, caused by dysfunctions of the brain regions involved in muscle control and/or of the relevant neurotransmission paths. So far, neither diagnosis nor treatment have been standardized, with the most common and effective therapy being the off-label bilateral administration of botulinum toxin in the thyroarytenoid-lateral cricoarytenoid (TA-LCA) complex. Our study assesses the effects of selective unilateral electrostimulation of the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN) vs. bilateral electrostimulation of the TA-LCA complex.

Materials and Methods In a multicenter study, we stimulated the iSLN in 13 and the TA-LCA complex in 7 patients using hooked-wire electrodes connected to an external stimulator. The effects of stimulation, which was performed for 30 min on 5 consecutive days, were assessed by comparing strain and tremor score, spasm count, voice parameters and quality of life prior to, and daily during and after stimulation and 1 week after the last stimulation session.

Results All 20/20 patients completed the study. Strain and tremor score, spasm count, maximum phonation time improved over treatment. The stimulation effects lasted for about 1 week after the last session and disappeared thereafter. The stimulation frequency used for VT was generally higher than that for SD patients, though always in the range between 40–100 Hz with a mean pulse width of 0.2 ms and an average amplitude < 5 mA.

Conclusions The exploratory results support the idea that electrostimulation of the laryngeal region may be considered for the development of new therapeutic solutions for both SD and VT.

Med-El Elektromedizinische Geräte GesmbH



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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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