Effectiveness of calcium hydroxylapatite paste in vocal rehabilitation

Objectives: We determined the effectiveness of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) paste in vocal rehabilitation. Methods: We examined a retrospective case series of 39 adult patients who underwent CaHA paste injection for vocal fold rehabilitation over a 5-year period. The outcomes included the change in the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) score; procedure-related complications; and the need for follow-up voice procedures. Results: The VHI scores demonstrated overall improvement, with a decrease from the preoperative mean of 61.2 ± 24.0 to a postoperative mean of 35.9 ± 26.3 (p = 0.0001) after a mean follow-up time of 17.8 ± 13.6 months. The procedure was more likely to succeed in patients with paralysis and/or paresis than in patients with glottic soft tissue defects. After injection, the VHI scores worsened in 3 of 7 patients (43%) in the soft tissue defect group, compared to only 2 of 28 (7%) in the paralysis and/or paresis group (p = 0.04). Four of 7 patients with soft tissue defects (57%) required secondary vocal procedures to improve the voice, compared to only 2 of 32 (6%) in the paralysis and/or paresis group (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Injection of CaHA paste results in significantly improved vocal scores in the majority of patients. Use of the paste was less satisfactory in patients with soft tissue defects because of poor retention of the paste in the scarred vocal fold remnant.