Abstract
After a partial laryngectomy on patients with laryngeal cancer with unilateral vocal cord fixation, we reconstructed the widely removed arytenoid region with a part of the thyroid cartilage or the hyoid bone. To maintain the sufficient blood flow, the sternothyroid and thyropharyngeal muscles were conserved when the thyroid cartilage was utilized. The sternothyroid muscle was preserved when the hyoid bone was utilized. The cartilage or bone was directly and firmly fixed to the cricoid cartilage. The inside of the cartilage or bone was covered with a local skin flap from the anterior neck.
In two patients, the lateral half of the thyroid ala on the affected side was used in reconstructing the arytenoid. In one patient, the half of the hyoid bone on the unaffected side was used. The supraglottic tissue including the epiglottis was simultaneously removed in two of the three patients. After surgery, the functions of phonation, respiration and swallowing were conserved satisfactorily without recurrence of the cancer in all three patients.
