Injection laryngoplasty.

After a nearly a century of development, augmentation of laryngeal tissue through injection remains as complex a procedure as it was in the earlier part of the century. Initially, the number of surgeons performing injection laryngoplasty was limited since the technique of injection was thought to be difficult and the selection of cases was thought to require the judgment of an accomplished laryngologist. Performing successful injection laryngoplasty does in fact require an understanding of laryngeal anatomy and physiology, and the physical characteristics of the substance to be injected. In addition, the surgeon must be aware of potential host reactions to the injected material. Finally, the surgeon must have an understanding of the etiology and configuration of the glottic insufficiency, and keep in mind the goals of the procedure.