[Quality of life before and after thyroplasty for vocal fold paralysis].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the vocal handicap in relation with the quality of life in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), before and after thyroplasty with Montgomery implant (type I).


METHODS
Ten patients had to file the VHI questioner before and three months after thyroplasty. The 30 items of the Voice Handicap Index scale are sub-divided in 3 categories referring to "Functional", "Physical" and "Emotional" dimensions.


RESULTS
Before thyroplasty, the global score and the 3 sub-scales rating are high reflecting severe impairment in speech communication (VHI total = 65,9/120, F = 25.7/40, E = 19.9/40, P = 20.8/40). Three months after thyroplasty, a significant improvement is found predominantly in the field of functional and emotional evaluation, corresponding to an improved quality of social life (VHI total = 20,9/120, F = 6.3/40, E = 3.6/40, P = 10.6/40).


CONCLUSIONS
These results show the interest in using the autoevaluation VHI scale as a complementary evaluation associated to perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic evaluation to objectify the functional improvement in voice quality after thyroplasty.
Borel
S
S
2. Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, Unité d'Exploration Fonctionnelle Voix-Parole-Déglutition, Service ORL, 20 rue Leblanc, F-75015 Paris, France.
Crevier-Buchman
L
L
Tessier
C
C
Hans
S
S
Laccourreye
O
O
Brasnu
D
D
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*