title: Use of topical lidocaine in the treatment of muscle tension dysphonia.
abstract: This investigation explored the potential usefulness of topical lidocaine in the treatment of muscle tension dysphonia. Three patients with this disorder, who were previously unresponsive to standard voice therapy, were treated with lidocaine. In each case, the outcome was prompt, clinically significant, and sustained. Persistently high-pitched and shrill vocal quality was converted to near normal voice patterns within 15 minutes after transcricothyroid membrane lidocaine injection. We suggest that this temporary and simple laryngeal and tracheal anesthetic technique may have helped to break the perverse cycle of hyperactive glottal and supraglottal muscle contractions evident in each of these patients during phonation efforts. We discuss the possible sensorimotor mechanism of action of this therapeutic technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. aa1544@wayne.edu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dworkin
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Meleca
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garfield
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D010699:Phonation; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine