Preliminary Results of Vocal Fold Augmentation by Injection of Autologous Fascia / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vocal fold augmentation by injection under direct visual control is a quick, easy, and accurate operation. However, when autologous fat or bovine collagen is used, both showed considerable resorption over time and gave variable results. Autologous fascia is a newly introduced graft material and has a low metablolic requirements with also a relatively stable histological characteristics. The goal of this study was to confirm the autologous fascia as a new injection material of vocal fold augmentation and assess the impact of the fascia injection on voice acoustics. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Six subjects with vocal cord palalysis and three with sulcus vocalis were analyzed after injection. The temporalis muscle fascia and abdominal fat were harvested. The fascia was cut into small pieces and injected using the pressure syringe with a 18 G needle on the lateral aspect of the vocal fold under the direct visual control. The preoperative and postoperative parameters including jitter, shimmer, signal to noise ratio, and maximum phonation time were analyzed. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in all parameters measured in the group of vocal cord palsy. But there was no definite improvement in the sulcus vocalis group. There was only one laryngeal complication, the postoperative granuloma at leakage site of injection. CONCLUSION: According to these preliminary results, it is suggested that vocal fold augmentation by injection of autologous fascia can be a stable and effective surgical treatment for vocal cord palsy.