A new paramedian approach to arytenoid adduction and strap muscle transposition for vocal fold medialization.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a prosthesis-free medialization laryngoplasty for the treatment of glottal incompetence.


METHODS
Twenty-two consecutive patients with glottal incompetence underwent vocal fold medialization using a new paramedian approach to arytenoid adduction and/or strap muscle transposition.


METHODS
Under local anesthesia, the thyroid lamina on the involved side was parasagittally separated 5 mm off the midline. The inner perichondrium was carefully freed from the overlying thyroid cartilage. After dividing the thyrohyoid and cricothyroid membranes, the lamina was retracted laterally, the inner perichondrium was opened, and the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle identified. Tracing the muscle fibers posterosuperiorly, the muscular process of the arytenoid was identified. A 2-0 or 3-0 Prolene suture was placed through the muscular process and tied to the cricoid cartilage at the origin of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle. A bipedicled strap muscle flap was then transposed into the space between the lamina and the inner perichondrium and the thyroid cartilages sutured back into place. Pre- and postoperative voice evaluations measured mean fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and maximal phonation time, as well as assessments of voice quality.


RESULTS
Vocal improvement was obtained in 95% (21 of 22) of patients. There was a significant improvement (P <.05) in all parameters except shimmer. No major complications were noted in any patient, except for dyspnea in one patient resulting from arytenoid overrotation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a paramedian approach to arytenoid adduction combined with strap muscle transposition is a safe and effective method for treating glottal incompetence, particularly in patients with unilateral paralytic dysphonia.
Su
Chih-Ying
CY
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. usgniy@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Lui
Chun-Chung
CC
Lin
Hsin-Ching
HC
Chiu
Jeng-Fen
JF
Cheng
Chu-An
CA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*