Serial Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Vocal Fold Atrophy, Scar, and/or Sulcus Vocalis

Safety and Efficacy of Serial Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Treatment of Vocal Fold Atrophy, Scar, and/or Sulcus Vocalis

This study will investigate the safety and efficacy of four serial monthly vocal fold injections of platelet-rich plasma to treat dysphonia secondary to vocal fold atrophy, scar, and/or sulcus vocalis with glottal insufficiency

Vocal fold atrophy, scar, sulcus vocalis, glottal insufficiency with resulting dysphonia is a condition affecting millions of aging Americans, up to 35% of those 65 or older. Currently used treatment methods include voice therapy, injections of inert fillers, and laryngeal framework surgery. These modalities are imperfect with voice therapy requiring considerable time commitment, filler injections generally temporary in benefit, and surgery with increased risks. The investigators intend to conduct a single-arm study to assess the safety and efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for vocal fold atrophy, sulcus vocalis and scar. PRP is a substance purified from the patient's own blood that consists of platelets, growth factors, and other regenerative molecules that have been shown to promote rejuvenation in a variety of tissue types. Patients with vocal fold atrophy, sulcus vocalis, and scar identified in the USC Voice Center will be offered participation in a study to receive serial PRP injections in one vocal fold. Outcome measures evaluated pre- and post-injection and over follow-up visits will include various patient reported quality of life indices, objective clinical assessments of voice, and laryngeal videostroboscopy examinations. The investigators hypothesize that serial PRP injections will significantly improve vocal fold mucosal volume, morphology, and dysphonia in these patients with no adverse side effects.

Presbylarynx, Atrophy; Larynx, Dysphonia, Vocal Cord Atrophy, Presbylarynges, Vocal Fold Scar, Sulcus Vocalis of Vocal Cord

presbyphonia, presbylarynx, vocal fold atrophy, dysphonia, platelet rich plasma, PRP, vocal fold scar

This arm will receive experimental intervention of serial monthly platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to a unilateral vocal fold mucosa for a total of 4 injections.

Autologous platelet-rich plasma will be injected into the vocal fold mucosa in a serial fashion, once per month for a total of 4 injections.

Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events as assessed by FDA/CBER Adverse Event Severity Grading Scale

Adverse event severity grading scale from 1 to 4, with grade 1 as mild, grade 2 as moderate, grade 3 as severe, and grade 4 potentially life-threatening

Voice-Related Quality of Life as assessed by Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI)

VHI-10 is a patient questionnaire with 10 statements rated from 0 to 4 with overall scale 0-40; VFI is a patient questionnaire with 19 statements rated from 0-4 with overall scale 0-76.

Objective Vocal Quality as assessed by experts using the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) instrument

Blinded evaluations of audio voice recordings will be performed by laryngologists and speech-language pathologists using the CAPE-V, which grades overall severity, roughness, breathiness, strain, pitch, and loudness from 0-100.

Vocal Fold Appearance as assessed by experts using a modified version of the Voice-Vibratory Assessment with Laryngeal Imaging (VALI) form

Blinded assessments of recorded laryngeal videostroboscopy exams will be performed by laryngologists and speech-language pathologists using a modified version of the VALI, which is a graphical rating form to grade various components seen on stroboscopy.

Inclusion Criteria: Vocal fold atrophy, scar, and/or sulcus vocalis diagnosed on laryngeal video stroboscopy by a fellowship-trained laryngologist Patients with a pre-injection VHI-10 score of ≥ 10 Willingness to follow study requirements and perform follow-up visits for up to 4 months following the procedure Ability to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Other co-existing laryngeal pathology that would affect either the safety or potential benefit from PRP injection Current smoker Underlying coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, or platelet dysfunction

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