Abstract
Type I thyroplasty is a useful method of treatment for patients suffering from breathy hoarseness due to unilateral vocal fold paralysis. With this treatment, however, it is difficult to correct the level difference between bilateral vocal fold. We performed type I thyroplasty in combination with arytenoid adduction to improve phonation in the patients with a wide vocal fold gap. We assessed cases in which type I thyroplasty was performed in our hospital.
Ten patients underwent type 1 thyroplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis from 2006 to 2008 (7 males and 3 females; ages ranging from 50 to 82 years). Type I thyroplasty alone was performed in 4 cases, and type I thyroplasty combined with arytenoid adduction in 6 cases. Maximum phonation time (MPT), mean flow rate (MFR), and the GRBAS scale were used to evaluate voice before and after surgery.
Preoperative mean MPT was 2.6 sec and postoperative mean MPT prolonged to 13.7 sec(p<0.01). Preoperative mean MFR was 793 ml⁄sec and postoperative mean MFR reduced to 190 ml/sec(p<0.01). It was also confirmed that hoarseness improved in all patients, according to the evaluation of GRBAS scale.
Arytenoid adduction easily combined with type I thyroplasty during laryngeal framework surgery. Type I thyroplasty combined with arytenoid adduction is effective in treating unilateral laryngeal paralysis with a wide vocal fold gap.
