Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1998 Oct;41(10):1318-1323.

Fat Injection as the Supportive Treatment of Functional Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

• Ahn CM
• Kim YW

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The functional velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is rare and difficult to diagnose, and the treatment results are often not favorable. Authors evaluated the efficacy of fat injection on posterior pharyngeal wall as the supportive treatment of the functional VPI.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The preoperative assessment included history of patients, the perceptual analysis of voice, nasopharyngoscopic findings of velopharyngeal movements, nasometer, findings of soft palate movement during phonation, and swallowing. Fat was taken from the umbilical area and was injected in 5 patients with functional VPI.
RESULTS
All 5 patients had relatively good results in voice quality after fat injection.
CONCLUSIONS
Fat injection may serve as a good supportive treatment method in functional VPI.

Keyword

Functional VPI; Fat injection

MeSH Terms

Deglutition
Humans
Palate, Soft
Phonation
Velopharyngeal Insufficiency*
Voice
Voice Quality