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Endoscopic arytenoid repositioning for unilateral arytenoid fixation
1Department of Otolaryngology, Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19103, USA.
Objectives:
To describe a new endoscopic technique for medialization of the laterally fixed arytenoid. The surgical technique, endoscopic arytenoid repositioning, is described, and the results of a series of cases are discussed.
Study Design:
Retrospective chart review.
Methods:
Eight patients underwent the procedure. Six patients were available for long-term follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative voice ratings were compared to evaluate the success of the procedure. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 64 months (mean follow-up, 31.5 mo).
Results:
Long-term follow-up in six cases revealed that 67% (4 of 6) patients had normal or near-normal postoperative voices and one patient experienced moderate improvement. The mean preoperative voice score was 4.24, and the mean postoperative voice score was 1.83 (range, 1-5). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Endoscopic arytenoid repositioning is a newly described procedure with a very specific indication: a unilateral, laterally fixed arytenoid complex resulting in a severely dysphonic voice. Though technically demanding, this procedure provides a promising option for medialization of the posterior glottis in a scarred larynx.