Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancements in the Fabrication of Synthetic Vocal Fold Models for Phonetic and Robotic Applications
Published on: January 5, 2024
Analysis of voice function following autologous fat injection for vocal fold paralysis
Hirohito Umeno1, Hidetaka Shirouzu, Shun-Ichi Chitose
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan. umeno2@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Objective:
This study demonstrates that intravocal fold injection of autologous fat obtained by liposuction technique is simple, and the functional results durable for patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis due to injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Study Design:
41 patients with unilateral paralysis of the vocal fold due to injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve received intravocal fold injection of autologous fat. Autologous fat, harvested from the lower abdomen by liposuction technique, was filtered out and injected through a needle into the vocal fold by using endolaryngeal microsurgery. Clinical follow-up after the injection was carried out from 1 month to 2 years.
Results:
Voice function dramatically improved compared with the parameters examined before the operation. Vocal function continued to improve as time passed during the second year after injection.
Conclusions:
Intravocal fold injection of autologous fat obtained by liposuction technique is simple, and the functional results durable for patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis due to injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Significance:
The effectiveness continued for more than 2 years in most patients.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Folding
Protein Folding
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding
The...
Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding
Protein Folding Quality Check in the RER
Fats as Energy Storage Molecules

