Abstract
Introduction : Autologous fat augmentation of the vocal folds has become widely adopted as a means of rehabilitation to treat deficiency of the glottal closure. However, it has been difficult to avoid decreased effectiveness due to absorption after injection and also to determine the injection quantity. In animal experiments using dogs, it was confirmed that the decreased effectiveness caused by absorption after injection can be reduced by administration of low-concentration fibroblast growth factor. Clinical applications were then carried out after acquiring approval from the Institutional Clinical Review Committee.
Method : Basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) was mixed in autologous fat tissue and injected into the vocal folds, and the results were evaluated over time. Also, a study was undertaken to evaluate the complications after injection and the duration of effectiveness.
Cases : Case 1:33-year-old male patient with sulcus vocalis. Case 2:62-year-old male patient with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis after operation for esophageal cancer.
Results : More than one year after operation, voices are in stabilized condition in both patients. Assessments using CT images revealed that the decrease in volume of the injected fat tissue was smaller in the cases of this study compared with cases involving the conventional method. Also, no severe complications were found after injection.
Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that it is possible to decrease the volume of fat tissue loss after injection when it is performed with b-FGF.
