title: Thyroplasty to improve the voice in patients with a unilateral vocal fold paralysis.
abstract: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis may cause incomplete closure of the glottis and a poor voice. Thyroplasty is a relative new operation to improve the voice by 'medialization' of the paralysed vocal fold. In our series of 29 patients 24 (83%) were satisfied and 26 (90%) had a better voice. After the operation the voice was louder, clearer and easier to understand. The dynamic and melodic ranges on the phonetogram were wider; maximum loudness and maximum phonation time were improved. There were no complications during the follow-up of 4 months to 5 years. In the three patients whose voice was not improved, the vocal fold paralysis was due to local trauma and scarring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rosingh
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Dikkers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D014833:Voice Quality