Abstract
Injection laryngoplasy is one of the typical remedies for the treatment of glottal insufficiency. In Japan, silicone, collagen, autologous fat, and calcium phosphate cement have been used as injectable materials. No material, however, can fulfill all the ideal conditions such as biocompatibility, nonabsorbability, non-migrating, and ready formulation for easy injection.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one component of the extracellular matrix that plays a key role in tissue viscosity, shock absorption, wound healing, and space filling. Research into the role of HA in laryngology indicates that it has profound effects on the structure and viscoelastisity of vocal fold.
Injection laryngoplasty using HA was performed on a patient with glottal insufficiency. HA was injected into the vocal folds using an oral laryngeal injection needle in conjunction with laryngeal electroendoscopic observation under local anesthesia. The injection procedure was accomplished safely and no acute foreign body reaction was observed. Evaluations were made from the patient's subjective ratings, videostroboscopic examinations, and acoustical analyses. All of the postoperative results showed improvement when compared with preoperative status.
Injection laryngoplasty using HA could be one of the most suitable remedies for the treatment of glottal insufficiency.
