TRANSCUTANEOUS TEFLON INJECTION FOR VOCAL CORD PARALYSIS

In 1989, I reported a series of 19 cases of unilateral vocal cord paralysis treated by transcutaneous Teflon injection. At that time it was shown that unilateral vocal cord paralysis could be effectively treated in the office in the unanesthetized patient using a transcutaneous route of injection. Since that time, an additional 43 patients have been treated using a similar technique. The initial impression of safety and efficacy has been confirmed in this subsequent series. Several refinements in this technique have simplified its use and improved its reliability. No airway complications have been observed to date and no patients have required hospital admission. Transcutaneous Teflon injection can be considered a useful method for treatment of vocal cord paralysis in selected patients.