The use of botulinum toxin in Otorhinolaryngology: an updated review

BACKGROUND: The use of botulinum toxin in Otorhinolaryngology has rapidly expanded over the last decade. Current observation is that the use of botulinum toxin in Otorhinolaryngology is relatively poorly acknowledged by Otorhinolaryngologists. OBJECTIVE OF REVIEW: To summarise the non-cosmetic uses of botulinum toxin in Otorhinolaryngology. TYPE OF REVIEW: Narrative. SEARCH STRATEGY AND EVALUATION METHOD: A literature search was performed using the Medline and Embase databases. Combinations of 'botulinum toxin' with each indication were searched. A citation was included if it evaluated a non-cosmetic use of botulinum toxin in Otorhinolaryngology. Eligibility of studies was assessed by two reviewers. A total of 1187 abstracts were reviewed and 97 articles identified. CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin provides an effective and minimally invasive treatment option in a wide range of non-cosmetic indications. Side-effects are few and transient with an excellent safety profile. Ongoing research is required to fully critically appraise its uses.