Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Surgical Management of Meatal Stenosis with Meatoplasty
Published on: November 30, 2010
Surgical management of posterior glottic diastasis in children
Douglas R Sidell1, Stephanie Zacharias2, Karthik Balakrishnan1
1Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Insights
Surgical repair of posterior glottic diastasis (PGD) in children with prolonged intubation or laryngotracheoplasty (LTP) can improve voice loudness and endurance. While voice quality may be compromised, operative intervention offers benefits for carefully selected patients.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Speech Pathology
Background:
- Posterior glottic diastasis (PGD) can arise from prolonged intubation or laryngotracheoplasty (LTP) in children.
- This condition significantly impacts vocal function and quality of life.
Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to report our clinical experience in the surgical management of patients with posterior glottic diastasis (PGD) secondary to prolonged intubation and/or laryngotracheoplasty (LTP) during childhood.
Methods:
We reviewed the charts of patients with a history of prolonged intubation and/or LTP who had undergone surgical correction for PGD at our institution between 2010 and 2014. We documented demographic data and pertinent information regarding medical and surgical histories. The Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI) and/or the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) were used to assess patients both before and after undergoing treatment for voice disorders.
Results:
Six patients met our inclusion criteria. With 1 exception, all patients with complete voice data demonstrated improvements in perceptual, patient-reported, and acoustic voice measures. There were no perioperative complications.
Conclusion:
Our case series demonstrates that operative intervention can lead to improved voice in carefully selected patients with PGD secondary to prolonged intubation and/or LTP during childhood. Patients exhibited postoperative improvement in loudness and vocal endurance; however, they also exhibited a degree of compromise in voice quality.
Related Concept Videos
Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management
Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques
Tonsillitis II: Management
Tracheostomy: Procedure and Tubes
Tracheostomy tubes can be made of semiflexible plastic (polyurethane or silicone), rigid plastic, or metal, and they come in...
Trachea
Anatomical Features:
Location: About half of the trachea is situated in the neck, anterior to the esophagus, and extends from the larynx (at the level of...

