Outcomes of fat injection laryngoplasty in unilateral vocal cord paralysis.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze outcomes following fat injection laryngoplasty in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis.

DESIGN

Longitudinal outcomes evaluation study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral voice center.

PATIENTS: Thirty-three consecutive patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis undergoing autologous fat injection laryngoplasty with preoperative and serial postoperative follow-up at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

INTERVENTION: Autologous fat injection laryngoplasty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Voice laboratory measurements, Voice Outcome Survey, and 36-item Short Form Health Survey.

RESULTS

Except for the physical functioning dimension of global health, voice-related subjective outcomes and acoustic variables of the patients significantly improved after surgery (P < .05). Compared with population norms, the mean (SD) scores of patients were inferior on the 36-item Short Form Health Survey dimensions of physical functioning (80.7 [22.3] vs 90.2 [17.4]) and role functioning-physical problems (65.0 [36.2] vs 80.2 [36.2]). Overall, 88.9% (24 of 27) of the patients were satisfied with their surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Fat injection laryngoplasty seems to be effective in enhancing acoustic and quality of life outcomes in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The effect is sustainable over 12 months.