[Treatment of vocal cord paresis with Teflon injections]

Twenty-five patients suffering from unilateral paresis of the vocal cord of differing durations caused by benign diseases and 25 patients with unilateral paresis caused by malignant tumours in the thorax/mediastinum were treated with Teflon injection of the paretic vocal cord. The results of treatment were evaluated by a speech therapist by voice recording pre-operatively, three weeks post-operatively and at a later control. This evaluation together with self-assessment demonstrated a satisfactory result even the long term result. In 2/3 of the patients good voice function was found at later control. The results indicated that the injection of Teflon is effective and should also be offered to patients with malignant diseases in spite of the poor prognosis quo ad vitam. No serious complications were seen in the post-operative period.