Incidence of Vocal Cord Dysfunction After Fluoroscopically Guided Steroid Injections in the Axial Skeleton

Abstract

Bhat AL, Chow DW, DePalma MJ, Garvan C, Chou L, Lenrow D, Slipman CW. Incidence of vocal cord dysfunction after fluoroscopically guided steroid injections in the axial skeleton. Objective To report on the incidence of dysphonia and/or associated throat symptoms after steroid injections in the axial skeleton. Design A prospective cohort study. Setting Academic spine center. Participants Patients (N=100) undergoing a diagnostic injection followed by a therapeutic injection in the axial skeleton. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure Presence or absence of dysphonia and/or associated throat symptoms, as determined by completion of a predetermined 10-item questionnaire. This questionnaire was administered before participation in the study and at specific intervals after a diagnostic injection and, again, after a therapeutic spinal injection. Results There was a 12% incidence of transient dysphonia and/or associated throat symptoms in this study population after a therapeutic injection. Conclusions Throat symptoms are a potential, albeit transient side effect, after an epidural space corticosteroid injection. The mechanism through which dysphonia or other throat symptoms develop is unknown but appears to be mediated by a systemic steroid effect.