2019 Volume 31 Issue 02 Pages 99-104
Injection laryngoplasty is part of an effective procedure for treating unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Many different materials are available for injection, and we have been using calcium phosphate cement (BIOPEX®). The procedure for preparing and injecting BIOPEX® is quite simple, and it is highly biocompatible material. BIOPEX® is injected into the paraglottic space under general anesthesia with under laryngeal exposure. It hardens immediately and changes to solid calcium after injection, pushing the glottis to the internal side. The injection of BIOPEX® results in the same treatment outcome as laryngoplasty type I. In the present study, we investigated the postoperative voice outcome and complications after injection of BIOPEX® in 47 patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. There were no postoperative infections due to BIOPEX® or severe laryngeal edema that required tracheostomy. The postoperative maximum phonation time (MPT) improved significantly to 12.1 seconds from 4.0 seconds before surgery, and the postoperative mean flow rate (MFR) improved significantly to 257ml/min from 580 ml/min before surgery. At 2 years after the surgery, 87.8% BIOPEX® still remained in the paraglottic space, and no side effects were caused over this long term. These results indicate that BIOPEX® is extremely safe with a favorable treatment outcome for injection to the human larynx.
