title: Inflammatory reaction to hyaluronic acid: A newly described complication in vocal fold augmentation.
abstract: To establish the rate of inflammatory reaction to hyaluronic acid (HA) in vocal fold injection augmentation, determine the most common presenting signs and symptoms, and propose an etiology.
  
  
  
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  
  Patients injected with HA over a 5-year period were reviewed to identify those who had a postoperative inflammatory reaction. Medical records were reviewed for patient demographic information, subjective complaints, Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) scores, medical intervention, and resolution time. Videolaryngostroboscopy examinations were also evaluated.
  
  
  
  A total of 186 patients (245 vocal folds) were injected with HA over a 5-year period, with a postoperative inflammatory reaction rate of 3.8%. The most common complaints in these patients were odynophagia, dysphonia, and dyspnea with vocal fold erythema, edema, and loss of pliability on videolaryngostroboscopy. All patients were treated with corticosteroids. Return of vocal fold vibration ranged from 3 weeks to 26 months, with VHI-10 scores normalizing in 50% of patients.
  
  
  
  This reaction may be a form of hypersensitivity related to small amounts of protein linked to HA. Alternatively, extravascular compression from the HA could lead to venous congestion of the vocal fold. The possibility of equipment contamination is also being investigated. Further studies are needed to determine the etiology and best treatment.
  
  
  
  4 Laryngoscope, 2016 127:445-449, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tibbetts
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.
authors.forename: C Blake
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D049489:Stroboscopy; D014741:Video Recording; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000187:drug effects*; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Hyaluronic acid; inflammatory reaction; vocal fold injection