Long-term effects of injection laryngoplasty with a temporary agent on voice quality and vocal fold position.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) treated with temporary injection laryngoplasty (IL) have a decreased rate of permanent medialization laryngoplasty (ML) compared to UVFP patients initially treated by observation. The aim of this study was to determine whether the lower rate of ML corresponded with improved quantifiable measures.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

METHODS

Examinations at presentation and follow-up of 14 IL patients and 24 observation patients were analyzed for laryngoscopic features and Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) scores.

RESULTS

The groups were similar at presentation. At follow-up, the IL group showed significant improvement in 11/18 laryngoscopic criteria and 7/12 CAPE-V parameters compared to the observation group (P < .05). The observation group underwent ML more frequently than the IL group (75% vs. 29%, P = .008).

CONCLUSIONS

The lower rate of permanent ML in patients undergoing temporary IL corresponds with improvements in CAPE-V scores and laryngoscopic features. Improvements persisted beyond the accepted time frame for temporary graft resorption.