Objectives: An analysis of the results achieved with intracordal autologous fat injection for unilateral laryngeal nerve paralysis after surgery.
Patients and method: A study group of 46 patients with unilateral laryngeal nerve paralysis was treated by intracordal injection of autologous fat with a minimum follow-up of eight months. All patients had severe dysphonia and 39 had breathlessness. Twenty-nine patients had aspiration problems with difficulties in swallowing.
Results: The only adverse side-effect was a subcutaneous abdominal hematoma in two patients and the development of an intracordal cyst in two patients. Aspiration disappeared immediately after the intracordal injection. Immediate improvement of speech, cough, and breathlessness was achieved in all patients. Over time, speech and voice, and swallowing remained stable in 67% and 80% of patients, respectively.
Conclusion: Such data suggest that the intracordal injection of autologous fat is a valuable method in patients with unilateral laryngeal nerve paralysis after surgery.