A. Saarinen et al., Airway flow dynamics and voice acoustics after autologous fascia augmentation of paralyzed vocal fold, ANN OTOL RH, 109(6), 2000, pp. 563-567
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vocal fold medialization,
accomplished by injection of autologous fascia, on airflow dynamics and vo
ice acoustics. Ten patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis were inclu
ded. Flow-volume spirometry, body plethysmography, and acoustic analysis of
voice were performed within 1 week before injection of autologous fascia a
nd 4 to 14 months after operation. Medialization of the paralyzed vocal fol
d decreased the mean peak inspiratory flow (PIF) from 4.63 L to 4.10 L (p =
.012). The acoustic characteristics of the voice improved: the values of ji
tter, shimmer, and mean noise-to-harmonics ratio decreased significantly (p
=.006, p =.017, and p =.047, respectively), and the mean maximal phonation
time almost doubled (p =.002). Changes in PIF and shimmer showed a negativ
e correlation (r = -.857, p =.007). In conclusion, injection of autologous
fascia improves voice acoustics, but induces a slight abnormal limitation o
n PIE The results also suggest that improvement in voice acoustics is most
prominent in subjects with the least deterioration in inspiratory airflow.