YVETTE M. VINSON, MD; RICARDO RODRIQUEZ, MD; MARK S. COUREY, MD
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Loss of the normal vocal fold lamina propria (LP) results in dysphonia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability to restore the LP with acellular dermal grafting. Four dogs underwent microlaryngoscopic excision of the LP bilaterally. On one side, a human cadaveric dermal graft was inserted. On the opposite side, the wound was closed without further intervention. Six weeks after intervention, the dogs were evaluated with stroboscopy and the larynx was harvested for histologic examination. All vocal folds were healed without clinically apparent inflammation. In 2 of the 4 animals, the mucosal wave was decreased to a greater extent on the side with the dermal graft. Histologic examination revealed greater cellularity in the tissue surrounding the graft site than in comparable tissue from the contralateral vocal fold (p < .OS). The graft material was infiltrated by activated fibroblasts. Acellular dermal grafting restores bulk to areas of deficient LP and stimulates fibroblast activity. Further study in human subjects is warranted