Glottoplasty for male-to-female transsexualism: voice results.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the objective voice results of Wendler's glottoplasty in male-to-female transsexuals.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed our patients treated with Wendler's technique with minor modifications. Glottoplasty consisted in CO(2)-laser epithelial ablation of the anterior commissure and the two vocal folds in anterior third, suturing of the two vocal folds with two stitches of 3.0 resorbable thread, and application of fibrin sealant to strengthen the suture. Voice assessment was based mainly on fundamental frequency (F(0)), frequency range, jitter, maximum phonation time, phonation quotient, estimated subglottic pressure (ESGP) grade of dysphonia (G), and voice handicap index (VHI). These measures were taken before surgery and on the last follow-up visit.


RESULTS
Our series included 15 patients with a mean age of 36 years. The mean follow-up period was 7.2 months. We did not observe any early complications related to the technique. The comparison between the preoperative and the postoperative measurements, using Wilcoxon signed rank test, showed a significant improvement of median F(0) from 139 to 191 Hz (P=0.006) with an increase in the grade of dysphonia (G(pre)=0.2, G(post)=1, P=0.013) and ESGP (ESGP(pre)=8.1 ± 3.2, ESGP(post)=12.0 ± 3.8, P=0.002). Other measurements, including VHI, did not show any significant differences pre- and postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Wendler's glottoplasty can contribute to feminize the voice.
Remacle
Marc
M
Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Louvain at Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.
Matar
Nayla
N
Morsomme
Dominique
D
Veduyckt
Ingrid
I
Lawson
Georges
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005262:Feminization; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005931:Glottis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D010699:Phonation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives