Use of the buccal fat [corrected] pad for vocal cord augmentation.
CONCLUSIONS
We performed therapeutically successful intracordal injection of autologous fat harvested from the buccal fat pad.


OBJECTIVE
Autologous fat has been used increasingly for intracordal injection as vocal rehabilitation in patients with deficient glottal closure. Adipose tissues used have been harvested mostly from the lower abdomen. However, patients differ considerably in the amount of fat available from the lower abdomen, and it is often difficult to obtain sufficient fat in patients with a low body mass index (BMI). Moreover, the scar visible after harvesting can be cosmetically undesirable. As an alternative, we evaluated harvesting of the buccal fat pad, as in plastic surgery.


METHODS
From January to December 2005, intracordal buccal fat injection was performed for 10 patients, who were subsequently followed up for over 6 months. Buccal mucosa was incised under general anesthesia to expose and harvest the buccal fat pad. This fat was cut into small pieces and injected into the vocal cord. Maximum phonation time and glottal aerodynamics were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Glottal closure and mucosal vibration were examined stroboscopically.


RESULTS
Except in one patient, no postoperative complications such as swelling or infection followed either harvesting or injection. After injection, phonation showed notable improvement that was maintained throughout follow-up.
Tamura
Etsuyo
E
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Tokai University Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. otamura@tok.u-tokai.ac.jp
Fukuda
Hiroyuki
H
Tabata
Yasuhiko
Y
Nishimura
Masaki
M
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002610:Cheek; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D049489:Stroboscopy; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*