Acoustic and videoendoscopic effects of temporary vocal fold augmentation in an office-based setting : a quasi-experimental study

Background: Vocal-fold augmentation is a continuously developing treatment modality for glottic insufficiency. Patients with glottic insufficiency attend the phoniatrics clinics with increasing frequency. Glottic insufficiency may be due to vocal-fold paralysis, paresis, atrophy, sulcus vocalis, scarring, and vocal-fold deficiency after laryngeal surgery. A variety of materials exist for injection augmentation. This follow-up study aimed to assess the short-term as well as long-term outcomes of vocal-fold injection with calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) in patients with glottic gap 1-3 mm. Method: This study included 25 patients with glottic insufficiency who underwent injection augmentation with CaHA. All patients were scheduled for voice evaluation using a comprehensive subjective and objective battery of assessments. Assessments were performed before the procedure and after the procedure at 2 months and at 1 year. Results: Perceptual voice quality assessed with the GRBAS scale improved and the results were stable after 1 year. Shimmer and HNR improved continuously through the follow-up sessions, while jitter and f0 showed slight improvement after CaHA injection. Conclusion: Voice improvement after injection of CaHA requires a minimum of 2 months to develop and may last for a long period.Peer reviewe