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Mary M. Gorham, MS; Michael A. Avidano, MD; Michael A. Crary, PhD; Cheryl S. Cotter, MD; Nicholas J. Cassisi, DDS, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124:739-742.

Objective  To describe the pattern of laryngeal recovery and its relationship to voice improvement following thyroplasty.

Design  We used a 5-point scale to rate 5 laryngeal characteristics preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months following thyroplasty.

Setting  A university-affiliated health center.

Patients  Forty-four patients who underwent thyroplasty to correct incomplete glottal closure.

Results  Improved glottal closure and reduced supraglottic activity followed thyroplasty. Although evidence of postoperative irritation (erythema, edema, or hematoma) was present in many patients, it resolved within the first 1 to 4 weeks postoperatively in 22 (73%) of the 30 subjects available for follow-up at 3 months following thyroplasty.

Conclusions  Thyroplasty is an effective procedure in correcting incomplete glottal closure and works to reduce excessive supraglottic activity in some patients. Recovery from postoperative vocal-fold irritation occurs rapidly, typically between the first week to first month, depending on the type and severity of irritation. These findings may help explain variations in postoperative voice improvement.

From the Departments of Communicative Disorders (Ms Gorham and Dr Crary) and Otolaryngology (Drs Avidano, Cotter, and Cassisi), University of Florida Health Science Center, Gainesville.