Abstract:Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy of autologous fat vocal cord injection in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis lasting more than 6 months and to identify key factors influencing treatment outcomes. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted, enrolling 39 patients who underwent unilateral vocal cord paralysis surgery with autologous fat injection between January 2018 and December 2022. The injected fat was obtained through a modified fat processing technique (two-step gradient centrifugation method). Subjective and objective voice evaluations were performed for the patients before the operation and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation, including GRBAS scale, voice handicap index (VHI), acoustic analysis, and stroboscopic laryngoscopy. Results At 12 months after surgery, the total VHI score significantly decreased from (68.5±25.3) before surgery to (22.7 ±18.4) (P<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis identified age (β=-0.42, P=0.001) and injection volume (β=5.87, P=0.003) as independent predictors of treatment outcomes. Conclusion Standardized fat processing procedure combined with precise injection technique can significantly improve surgical efficacy, making it a safe and effective method for treating unilateral vocal cord paralysis.