Abstract
Laryngeal function was evaluated in six patients after treatment of laryngeal trauma. The patients were all male, aged 18 to 61 years (average age 41.0 years). The injury in three patients was caused by automobile accidents, in two patients by industrial accidents, and in one patient by contusion due to being kicked in the neck. Treatment included tracheostomy, repositioning of fragments, grafting, arytenoidectomy, trough method, cricopharyngeal myotomy, upward fixation of the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, and introduction of silicon rubber T-tubes.
The six patients answered questionnaires concerning their laryngeal symptoms: hoarseness, dyspnea, and dysphagia. Five patients were examined by phonation analyzer (PS-77, Nagashima Co.) and automatic analyzable system for pulmonary function (autospiror HI-498, Chest Co.)
Two patients still complained of severe hoarseness, and four of moderate or slight hoarseness. Two patients still complained of slight dyspnea and four of slight dysphagia.
The curve of the phonation analyzer in all patients demonstrated by fundamental frequency and intensity a disappearance of normal vocal cord vibration.
The flow-volume curve of the autospiror showed decreased peak expiratory flow plateau formation in three patients.
All patients except one with a gait disturbance, returned to work with only slight laryngeal symptoms.
In the follow-up of laryngeal function in patients with laryngeal injury and in advising them about rehabilitation, the newly developed phonation analyzer and respirometer are very useful.
