title: Laryngeal lipotransfer: review of a 14-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of lipotransfer for treatment of various vocal fold (VF) pathologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed retrospectively the indications for and techniques of laryngeal lipotransfer and its effect on glottic closure and mucosal wave. One hundred four patients treated with lipotransfer between 1997 and 2010 were screened for inclusion in this study. Fifteen patients were excluded. Strobovideolaryngoscopic examinations for the 89 included subjects were reviewed to determine the change in glottic closure and mucosal wave. The degree of improvement, if any, was graded as mild, moderate, or substantial. The population was divided into the following four groups for analysis: (1) single lateral lipoinjection, (2) combination of lipoinjection and thyroplasty, (3) multiple lipoinjections with or without other injection medialization procedures, and (4) lipoimplantation for treatment of VF scar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipotransfer was used alone and as an adjunct procedure to treat glottic insufficiency (GI) secondary to VF motion abnormality or vibratory margin pathology. Augmentation was accomplished either by lateral injection or by medial implantation through an access tunnel. Most patients showed a statistically significant improvement in glottic closure because of lipoinjection and in mucosal wave because of lipoimplantation. Few minor and no serious complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laryngeal lipotransfer is safe and effective for treatment of GI and VF scar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, USA.
authors.forename: Rima A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: DeFatta
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: DeFatta
authors.forename: Robert Thayer
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Sataloff
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000637:transplantation*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D058753:Laryngoplasty; D010699:Phonation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*