Comparison of the Effectiveness of Injection Laryngoplasty Using Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma or Autologous Fat With Platelet-Rich Fibrin for the Treatment of Patients With Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis.

Objectives: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) can be idiopathic or a result of surgery, cancer, or neurological disease. The most common presentation is dysphonia, which causes problems with communication, and can lead to anxiety and depression. Injection laryngoplasty (IL) is a current means of treatment, but there have been few studies to determine the optimal material to use. Therefore, we aimed to compare the use of autologous platelet-rich plasma and autologous fat with platelet-rich fibrin for IL under local anesthesia and general anesthesia, respectively.

Study Design: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted at the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with UVFP were recruited. All met the inclusion criteria and were randomized to two groups, to be treated using autologous platelet-rich plasma under local anesthesia or autologous fat with platelet-rich fibrin under general anesthesia. The primary outcome was the mean difference in the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) between the groups at 1- and 6-months post. The secondary outcomes were the mean differences in voice acoustic parameters [maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, and harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR)] between the groups at these time points.

Results: At the measured time points, there were no significant differences in the mean VHIs (P = 0.462), MPT (P = 0.79), jitter (P = 0.234), shimmer (P = 0.863), or HNR (P = 0.096) between the groups. Few people who underwent the procedure under local anesthesia developed laryngospasm, while some of those in the fat with platelet-rich fibrin developed postoperative abdominal contusion or hematoma which resolved spontaneously.

Conclusions: We have found no difference in the effectiveness of IL using autologous platelet-rich plasma under local anesthesia or autologous fat with platelet-rich fibrin performed under general anesthesia in patients with UVFP. No serious or life-threatening complications were found in both groups.