Arytenoid adduction for correcting vocal fold asymmetry: high-speed imaging

We hypothesized that high-speed digital imaging provides a quantitative method to evaluate the effect of arytenoid adduction for the correction of asymmetric and irregular vocal fold vibration in unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Six subjects with unilateral vocal fold paralysis participated in the study (4 male, 2 female; mean [-SD] age, 52.5 +/- 21.3 years). Videokymographic and laryngotopographic methods for image analysis were performed for high-speed recordings of vocal fold vibration for visualizing the glottal vibratory patterns, and for quantifying the frequency of vibration of each vocal fold, respectively. Comparisons of the paralyzed and the normal vocal folds were made before and after arytenoid adduction.

Analysis of the laryngotopographs revealed 2 distinct frequencies of vibration for the paralyzed and the contralateral vocal folds for all subjects before surgery. After arytenoid adduction, the vibration frequencies became identical or nearly identical in all subjects.

Asymmetric vibration in vocal fold paralysis was exemplified by differences in vibration frequency between the vocal folds. The present data showed that after arytenoid adduction the vibration frequencies and the vibratory patterns of the contralateral vocal folds approached symmetry. This surgical procedure could improve the functional symmetry of the larynx for phonation.