Adjustable Vocal Implant System ( <scp>VOIS</scp> ) for Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: Short‐Term Outcomes From a 12‐Patient Case Series
BACKGROUND: Unilateral vocal cord palsy (UVCP) significantly affects phonation and swallowing. While injection laryngoplasty and medialisation thyroplasty are effective, both may require revision. Vocal Implant System (VOIS; APrevent Biotech GmbH) is an adjustable titanium-silicone thyroplasty implant that allows postoperative modification, potentially reducing the need for further surgery. METHODS: Twelve patients, seven male and five female, underwent VOIS implantation. Voice outcomes were assessed pre- and postoperatively using the GRBAS scale and the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). RESULTS: The composite GRBAS score improved significantly from 9.0 ± 1.87 to 3.75 ± 2.49 (p = 0.0024). The VHI-10 decreased from 25.75 ± 9.36 to 14.92 ± 9.55 (p = 0.0093). No intra- or postoperative complications occurred. Two patients required postoperative implant volume adjustments-one performed in clinic and one under local anaesthetic in theatre. CONCLUSION: The VOIS implant thyroplasty demonstrated significant improvement in both perceptual and patient-reported voice outcomes with a favourable safety profile. Larger, long-term studies are warranted to confirm its comparative efficacy and durability.
Authors
- Rohan Bidaye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6735-8037)
- Chuanyu Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7079-2283)
- Guan‐Min Ho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2038-0085)
- Yadsan Devabalan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6389-8397)
- Michael Keane
- Sam Kebbe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4844-9194)
Institutions
- Taipei City University of Science and Technology (TW)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Northampton General Hospital (GB)
- Mackay Memorial Hospital (TW)
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (GB)
- Taipei Medical University (TW)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Clinical Otolaryngology
- Published
- 2026-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/coa.70142
- Primary Topic
- Voice and Speech Disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00