Thyroplasty type Ⅰ +Ⅲ： Treatment for dysphonia with severe vocal fold atrophy in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy

Abstract

Thyroplasty type Ⅰ and Ⅲ (TP Ⅰ + Ⅲ) has improved dysphonia with severe vocal fold atrophy in cases of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). The patient was a 68-year-old man who had been diagnosed with OPMD 10 years before the operation. He underwent cricopharyngeal myotomy three years after the diagnosis, and his swallowing function improved. Three years later, he became annoyed by his altered voice. Autologous fat injections twice and collagen injections twice to the right vocal cord were performed over the subsequent few years;however, his voice quality was not improved due to the absorption of fat and collagen and the marked progression of vocal fold atrophy. TP Ⅰ + Ⅲ was performed to improve his breathy voice, while an endoscopic examination of swallowing showed that his swallowing function had deteriorated steadily. After the operation, each vocal cord was shifted toward the midline successfully, although the vocal cord closure was not perfect. TP Ⅰ + Ⅲ seems to be an effective phonosurgical technique for the treatment of dysphonia due to severe vocal fold atrophy.