EFFECT OF BOTULINUM TOXIN MANAGEMENT OF SPASMODIC DYSPHONIA ON LIFE QUALITY OF PATIENTS
1Sağlık Bakanlığı Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 1. KBB Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye2Sağlık Bakanlığı Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
3Sağlık Bakanlığı Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 2. KBB Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye Objective: The aim of this study is; to evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin (BT) treatment in Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD), that is a focal dystonia of the larynx, on the quality of life.
Material and methods: The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was used to assess the impact of SD and to evaluate the effect of BT treatment on quality of life. The VHI was completed by 20 consecutive patients with SD before receiving BT injection and 1 month after injection. Pretreatment scores on the VHI were compared with posttreatment scores.
Results: Pretreatment scores on the VHI showed significant impairment in all 3 subscales and the total score (total score, 68.6±12.6; physical, 25.9±5.3; functional, 21.8±2.3; and emotional, 20.9±4.2). Statistically significant improvements occurred in all 3 subscale scores and the total score (total score, 26.4±11.4; physical, 9.2±3.3; functional, 8.7±2.0; and emotional, 8.5±5.2) after BT treatment.
Conclusion: SD patients have differenet kinds of difficulties in their daily practice. In our country there have been no stuidies that has been done about life quality in SD patients. VHI shows that SD effects quality of life seriosly. Significant improvements in all 3 subscale scores and the total score on the VHI occur after treatment with BT.
Keywords : Dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia, botulinum toxin, larynx