Laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with micronized AlloDerm.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis usually present with dysphonia and occasionally with swallowing problems. Operative management includes thyroplasty type I, injection laryngoplasty, arytenoid adduction, and reinnervation. Recent publications have documented the safety of micronized AlloDerm (Cymetra, LifeCell Corporation, Branchburg, NJ) for injection laryngoplasty, but we report the first documented case of a laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with Cymetra.

STUDY DESIGN: Single case report of a laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with Cymetra.

METHODS: The patient's clinical course is presented and discussed, and the pertinent literature is reviewed.

RESULTS: Prompt hospital admission with intravenous antibiotics and steroids resolved this airway emergency. Follow-up visits showed a significantly improved postoperative voice with an intact airway.

CONCLUSION: A review of the literature reveals that this case of a laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with Cymetra is the first of its kind. Studies have shown that the use of AlloDerm in the head and neck region is safe, but otolaryngologists need to be cognizant of potential complications when working with this material.