Navi Mumbai: Woman's voice restored after special Botox treatment in larynx

NAVI MUMBAI: Botox injections are popularly associated with clearing of face wrinkles or such cosmetic procedures. However, at Navi Mumbai's Medicover Hospital, a 48-year-old homemaker regained her lost voice after two years when the expert doctors administered botox injection to her larynx muscles which had suffered a neurological disorder which affects around one person in a population of 1.5 lakh.This is the first such surgery performed in Navi Mumbai city to restore the patient's voice. It is called Laryngeal EMG (electromyography) Guided Botox Treatment, which is a sensitive procedure
In a rare feat, a team led by Dr Farha Naaz Kazi, a leading laryngologist at Medicover Hospitals, successfully treated the woman with Spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological vocal disorder causing involuntary spasms in the larynx muscles and impaired speech, to regain her original voice after two years.
The patient (name withheld) started noticing changes in her voice two years ago. She had difficulty in talking to even complete a sentence. She consulted multiple doctors who couldn’t solve her problem. Ultimately, her voice quality worsened over time. Two months ago, the patient approached Medicover Hospital for treatment and regained her voice like before.
Dr Kazi, said, “On arrival, in November 2023, the patient could not complete a sentence. A stroboscopy study performed revealed Spasmodic dysphonia which is a neurological vocal disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the larynx, leading to impaired speech and vocal quality. For many years, patients with this condition have struggled to find effective treatment options. A recent advancement in the form of laryngeal EMG-guided Botox treatment has been providing significant relief for patients suffering from spasmodic dysphonia.”
Dr Kazi added, “With laryngeal EMG-guided Botox treatment, a small electrode is used to measure and record the electrical activity in the muscles of the larynx. This information is then used to locate the overactive muscles causing the spasms precisely. By targeting these specific muscles with Botox injections, the treatment can be much more effective in improving vocal symptoms and reducing spasms. This innovative approach allows us to directly target the muscles causing the vocal spasms, leading to improved vocal quality and speech for patients with spasmodic dysphonia.''
During follow-up after 10 days, she was pleased to talk in her normal voice after so long.”
The personalized nature of EMG-guided Botox treatment enables healthcare professionals to tailor each injection session to the specific needs of the individual patient.
“I never imagined that this novel procedure at Medicover Hospital would have such a profound impact on my life. After struggling to speak for two years due to muscle spasms, the EMG-guided Botox treatment not only restored my ability to communicate but also gave me back my confidence. The use of EMG-guided Botox treatment is a game-changer in the field of medical technology, and I am grateful for how it has transformed my life.'' said the relieved patient.