Computerized tomographic alignment of silastic implant in type 1 thyroplasty

• Published in: American journal of otolaryngology 2000-05, Vol.21 (3), p.179-183
• Main Authors: Asım Şafak, Mustafa, Göçmen, Hakan, Kormaz, Hakan, Kiliç, Rahmi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hoarseness - diagnosis; Humans; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Prosthesis Implantation; Thyroid Cartilage - diagnostic imaging; Thyroid Cartilage - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vocal Cord Paralysis - surgery; Voice Quality
• ISSN: 0196-0709; 1532-818X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0196-0709(00)85021-8

We designed a computerized tomography (CT)-based silastic implant preparation method that enabled custom fit to the individual size of the patient's larynx for medialization laryngoplasty. Three women with unilateral vocal cord paralysis underwent type I thyroplasty operation. The individual size of the patient's larynx was determined by preoperative measurements on CT scan and the implant was prepared accordingly. The implant was then inserted through a rectangular window at the level of vocal cords which had been outlined according to CT findings. Three patients, who were age 41, 25, and 37 years, underwent medialization laryngoplasty by this technique. They were followed up for 37, 16, and 4 months, respectively. There was not any rejection reaction, and satisfactory functional results with 10, 7, and 9 seconds of phonation duration have been achieved, respectively. In this technique, the desired medialization of the paralyzed vocal cord was accomplished by the first insertion of the implant. Thus, the duration of the operation and the vocal cord edema aroused by manipulation of the inner perichondrium and internal laryngeal structures were reduced.