Lateral Transcervical In-office Botulinum Toxin Injection for Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction

Operating room (OR) injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) injection is effective in the management of retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (RCPD). This study aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of in-office (IO) 30 Unit BTX injection into the cricopharyngeus via lateral transcervical approach.

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent BTX injection either in the OR or IO for RCPD was performed. Postoperative success, defined by patient-reported complete or near complete resolution of symptoms, side effects, and complication rates of each group was determined and compared. To determine the learning curve of IO injections, success rates of the injections performed in the early and late 6 months were compared. Chi-square test was used for determining the statistical significance.

Overall, 78 injections (37 IO and 41 OR) for RCPD were performed by the senior author. The success rate of OR injections (90.2%) is significantly higher than IO injections (64.9%) at the first-month follow-up (p = 0.022). No significant difference was found in the side effect rates. Success and side effect rates were also similar in early and late injections (p > 0.05).

IO lateral transcervical BTX injection for RCPD is a safe method that does not require general or topical anesthesia. While the side effects are similar and IO injections have many advantages, the success rates are lower than OR injections.

3 Laryngoscope, 134:283-286, 2024.