Long-term histological outcomes of injected autologous fat into human vocal folds after secondary laryngectomy

OBJECTIVE: To histologically evaluate the long-term outcomes of autologous fat grafts after injection laryngoplasty in the human larynx.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We injected liposuctioned fat for vocal fold augmentation in patients with vocal fold paralysis. We suctioned autologous fat from the low abdomen with an 18-G disposable needle and a 20-mL disposable syringe under negative pressure. This is different from the conventional liposuction technique and avoids the use of special equipment. In this article, we report the histological evaluation of 2 patients (patient 1: 12 months, patient 2: 41 months) who required total laryngectomy after autologous fat injection into the vocal folds.

RESULTS: Histological examination revealed normal-appearing viable adipocytes with minimal inflammatory response in both patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our liposuctioned autologous fat injection histologically offered long-term improvement in patients with impaired glottal closure from vocal fold paralysis. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005;132:685-688.)