2019 Volume 31 Issue 02 Pages 93-98
Fat injection laryngoplasty (FIL) is a widely accepted form of augmentation surgery. We herein report the features of autologous fat as an injection material and describe the indications and technical tips concerning FIL. We also conducted a clinical analysis of FIL cases in our institute and describe the findings. The advantages of autologous fat include not only the lack of any immune reaction after its injection but also its viscosity, which closely resembles that of the superficial layer of the lamina propria of the vocal fold. The most suitable indication of FIL is for unilateral vocal fold paralysis in order to medialize the fixed vocal fold. Atrophy and scarring of the vocal fold as well as sulcus vocalis can also be a target pathological condition, as those disease cause loss of volume of the membranous portion of the vocal fold. An analysis of the FIL cases in our institute since 2008 to 2017 showed that consecutive data of MPT, MFR, PPQ and APQ, which are objective voice findings, improved at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery compared to preoperative voice examination findings. Subjective findings, such as the VHI-10 and V-RQOL, also improved. Both objective and subjective values are stable at three months after FIL. Based on the present and previous findings, FIL seems to be effective in the mid- to long-term period.
