Effect of Hyaluronic Acid Injection for Dysphagia Due to Vocal Fold Paralysis after Influenza Infection – A Case Report / 대한연하장애학회지

ABSTRACT

A 74-year-old female patient was diagnosed with unilateral vocal fold paralysis without any brain lesions, but with a history of influenza infection 1 week ago. No significant manifestations were observed in the oral phase in the Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS). However, during swallowing aspiration, 50% of the residue after swallowing was measured as semisolid, and aspiration was observed when swallowing in the liquid form. The Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) score was 6 points, and the Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS) was 46 points.Vocal-fold adduction was performed by injecting hyaluronic acid. Four days after the vocal fold injection, VFSS showed no aspiration during the swallowing of semisolids. Moreover, compared to the initial test, 10% of the residue measured after swallowing semisolids was decreased. No aspiration was observed when swallowing the liquid.Scores obtained for the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) and the Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS) were 4 and 26, respectively. Taken together, our results indicate that in a situation where upper respiratory infections are increasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hyaluronic acid injections have the potential to improve dysphagia in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis due to a viral infection.