Voice acoustics after autologous fascia injection for vocal fold paralysis.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was carried out to assess the impact of fascial injection on voice acoustics Preliminary results had suggested that voice, as rated by a panel of listeners, was significantly improved after autologous fascia augmentation of a paralyzed vocal fold.


METHODS
A prospective study among patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis was carried out. Eighteen subjects were analyzed 9 months (mean) after the procedure.


METHODS
The preoperative and postoperative samples of vowel /a/ were analyzed by Key Elemetrics (Lincoln Park, NJ). Computerized Speech Lab.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement (P<.05) in all parameters measured, including jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and maximum phonation time. No laryngeal complications were seen.


CONCLUSIONS
According to these preliminary results, vocal fold augmentation by an injection of autologous fascia seems a simple, inexpensive, reliable and safe method to restore voice quality after unilateral vocal fold paralysis.
Rihkanen
H
H
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
Lehikoinen-Söderlund
S
S
Reijonen
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*