The objectives of the present study were to describe hyaluronic acid injection to the vocal folds as treatment for glottal insufficiency, assess indications and report vocal results at 1 month and later than 6 months postoperatively.

A single-center retrospective study was performed for the period March 2012 to August 2015. Inclusion criteria comprised: unilateral recurrent nerve palsy or vocal fold closure defect with conserved mobility. Exclusion criteria comprised: previous thyroplasty, severe swallowing disorder, and cognitive disorder hindering subjective vocal assessment. Restylane^® injection was performed under general or local anesthesia. The Vocal Handicap Index (VHI), maximum phonation time (MPT) and GRBAS (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain) score were assessed preoperatively and at 1 month and more than 6 months postoperatively.

Twenty patients were included: 14 with unilateral recurrent nerve palsy and 6 with vocal fold closure defect. Restylane^® injection was performed under general anesthesia in 16 patients and local anesthesia in 4 (20%). At 1-month assessment, there was significant reduction in VHI (by 36 points; P=0.0001) and GRBAS score (by 6.95 points; P=0.0001) and significant increase in MPT (by 4.95sec; P=0.0001). At 6 months, VHI, MPT and GRBAS scores remained significantly improved (respectively, P=0.0002, P=0.001 and P=0.0001), without significant difference from 1-month levels. Three patients had minor complications; two recovered normal vocal fold mobility.

Hyaluronic acid injection was effective in treating glottal failure, improving objective and subjective vocal parameters, which remained satisfactory even 6 months postoperatively.