Treatment of Parkinson hypophonia with percutaneous collagen augmentation.
OBJECTIVE
It has been estimated that more than 70% of patients with Parkinson disease experience voice and speech disorders characterized by weak and breathy phonation, and dysarthria. This study reports on the efficacy of treating Parkinson patients who have glottal insufficiency.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients underwent collagen augmentation of the vocal folds for hypophonia associated with Parkinson disease, using a new technique of percutaneous injection with fiberoptic guidance. Patient response to the collagen augmentation was determined by telephone survey.


CONCLUSIONS
The procedure required minimal patient participation and was safely performed on all the patients who were studied. Results of the survey indicated that 75% of patient responses demonstrated satisfaction with the technique, compared with 16% of patient ratings reflecting dissatisfaction. These results were moderately correlated with the duration of improvement of the dysphonia. Results of this preliminary evaluation demonstrate that voice deficits in Parkinson disease are amenable to vocal fold augmentation. Because this procedure requires minimal patient participation and can be safely performed in an office setting, it may also be useful in other severely debilitating neuromotor diseases that result in glottal insufficiency and hypophonia.
Berke
G S
GS
Division of Head/Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Gerratt
B
B
Kreiman
J
J
Jackson
K
K
D000368:Aged; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014833:Voice Quality
D003094:Collagen