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Dysphonia secondary to traumatic avulsion of the vocal fold in infants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2010

D Bray ,
L Cavalli ,
N Eze ,
N Mills  and
B E J Hartley
D Bray*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
L Cavalli
Affiliation:
Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
N Eze
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
N Mills
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
B E J Hartley
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr D Bray, 6 Bedford Terrace, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 1YJ, UK. E-mail: dbray@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

Airway compromise due to paediatric intubation injuries is well documented; however, intubation injuries may also cause severe voice disorders. We report our experience and review the world literature on the voice effects of traumatic paediatric intubation.

Case series:

We report five cases of children referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children who suffered traumatic avulsion of the vocal fold at the time of, or secondary to, endotracheal intubation. All children had significant dysphonia and underwent specialist voice therapy.

Conclusions:

The mechanisms of injury, risk factors and management of the condition are discussed. Children suffering traumatic intubation require follow up throughout childhood and beyond puberty as their vocal needs and abilities change. At the time of writing, none of the reported patients had yet undergone reconstructive or medialisation surgery. However, regular specialist voice therapy evaluation is recommended for such patients, with consideration of phonosurgical techniques including injection laryngoplasty or thyroplasty.

Keywords

LarynxChildTraumaVoiceVocal Cords
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 11 , November 2010 , pp. 1229 - 1233
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

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