Evaluation of Safety After Intracordal Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Injection

Although there are many reports of voice improvement with intracordal trafermin (a basic fibroblast growth factor) injections under local anesthesia, few papers have documented the safety of trafermin. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether trafermin is safer than control drugs (triamcinolone acetonide) early after intracordal injection under local anesthesia.

We conducted a retrospective review from the medical records of patients who underwent intracordal injection with trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide under local anesthesia at our institution. Early postinjective complications were defined as changes in vital signs and chief complaints early after intracordal injection.

A total of 699 and 297 patients underwent intracordal injection under local anesthesia with trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide, respectively. Of these, 227 and 130 patients had early postinjective complications with trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide, retrospectively. The most common complications occurring with trafermin was increased blood pressure in 39 cases (5.58%): 17 cases (2.43%) of blood pressure increase of ≥20 mm Hg. Other complications included pharyngeal discomfort in 37 (5.29%), lightheadedness in 33 (4.72%), and phlegm discharge in 29 (4.15%). Triamcinolone acetonide caused pharyngeal discomfort in 28 patients (9.43%), phlegm discharge in 17 patients (5.72%), lightheadedness in 12 patients (4.04%), sore throat in 11 patients (3.70%), increased blood pressure in 10 patients (3.37%): 7 cases (2.36%) of blood pressure increase of ≥20 mm Hg, and dizziness in seven patients (2.36%). Statistical analysis of the complications between trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide showed no significant differences.

The proportion of early postinjective complications from intracordal injection of trafermin is no significant difference in that of triamcinolone acetonide. The results suggest that the early postinjective complications are not due to the drug action of trafermin, but rather to complications from the intracordal injection procedures. Intracordal trafermin injection may be safe in the short term.