Voice Recovery in a Patient with Inhaled Laryngeal Burns

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngeal burns cause long-term voice disorders due to mucosal changes of the vocal folds. Inhalation injuries affect voice production and result in changes in the mucosal thickness and voice quality.

Case report: A 47-year-old woman was transferred to our department with laryngeal burns sustained during a house fire. On laryngoscopic examination, mucosal waves of both vocal folds were not visualized due to the injury caused by inhalation of high-temperature toxic smoke. Hence, voice analysis, laryngoscopic examinations, and high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) were performed to evaluate vocal fold vibrations. An absence of mucosal waves and a breathy and strained voice with a severe grade were noted. We report that voice quality was recovered to close to the normal state through multiple treatments such as medication, voice therapy, and counseling.

Conclusion: This paper presents the unique case of a patient with laryngeal burns, in which vibrations of the vocal folds were observed using laryngoscopic examination and HSV. Voice samples before and after treatment were also analyzed. By observing the vibration pattern of the injured vocal fold, it is expected that appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning can be established in clinical practice.

Keywords: Dysphonia; Inhalation Burns; Laryngoscopy; Larynx.

Fig 1

Images of laryngoscopic examinations. A: Laryngoscopy at the first visit; B: Laryngoscopy at 6 months after the inhalation burn; C: Laryngeal videostroboscopy at the first visit

Fig2

Multiple analyses of vocal fold vibrations in a patient with laryngeal burns. A: HSV display; B: 2D DKG; C: DKG; D: Sequential HSV images

Fig 3

Multiple analyses of vocal fold vibrations in a normal subject (author; male, 33 years of age).