Laryngeal framework surgery in the management of spasmodic dysphonia. Preliminary report

Spasmodic dysphonia continues to be a management problem for otolaryngologists. Selective lysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve has been useful in the management of this disease. Reported long-term results, however, reveal that spasm recurs in approximately 40% to 50% of initially successful patients in spite of persistence of the unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Although some of these failure can be recaptured with subsequent laser surgery, the overall "cure" rate does not exceed 70%, even in the best hands. The contributions of Isshiki, LeJeune, and Tucker have demonstrated that tension in the vocal folds can be adjusted by laryngeal framework surgery. Experience with 16 patients suffering from adductor spasmodic dysphonia suggests that laryngeal framework surgery is useful in the management of this disorder.