Steroid injection for Reinke's edema using fiberoptic laryngeal surgery

Objective - Since 1990, we have performed steroid injections into the vocal fold under topical anesthesia using fiberoptic laryngeal surgery (FLS) in an outpatient clinic. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the usefulness of this treatment method in 44 patients with mild Reinke's edema. Material and Methods - Using fiberoptic monitoring of the larynx, a curved injection needle was inserted via the oral cavity and triamcinolone acetonide was injected into Reinke's space of the bilateral vocal fold. Results - Remission or improvement was observed in almost all patients in terms of both patients' self-rating of hoarseness and endoscopic vocal fold findings. The maximum phonation time was a mean of 9.0 s before operation and 11.4 s after operation, and this increase was significant (p < 0.01). Voice pitch also improved, from 168 to 181 Hz, in female patients, and this increase was also significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion - Steroid injection is considered to be useful for treating mild Reinke's edema.