Treatment Outcomes of Bilateral Medialization Thyroplasty for Presbylaryngis

Presbylaryngis is a common cause of dysphonia in elderly patients. Type I thyroplasty serves to improve glottic closure and vocal quality by correcting bowing. Although unilateral and injection-based procedures are well-characterized in the treatment of broadly defined glottic insufficiency, there are insufficient outcomes data for bilateral medialization thyroplasty in the treatment of presbylaryngis. The aim of this study was to review the change in measures of vocal quality before and after bilateral medialization thyroplasty for presbylaryngis.

This is a retrospective case series.

The records of 21 patients with presbylaryngis undergoing bilateral medialization thyroplasty between 2007 and 2014 were reviewed. Implant materials included silastic (n = 17) and hydroxyapatite (n = 4). Preoperative and postoperative comparison of vocal function was conducted using Voice Handicap Index, maximum phonation time, auditory-perceptual severity ratings, and blinded paired-comparison of Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice and Visual-perceptual stroboscopic ratings. Paired sample t tests were used to assess all outcome measures.

Significant improvements were found in Voice Handicap Index scores (P < 0.007), maximum phonation time (P < 0.03), Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (P < 0.04), and clinician rating of vocal quality (P < 0.0001). Blinded raters noted a significant improvement in audio (P < 0.05) and videostroboscopic (P < 0.003) samples after surgery. There were no operative complications observed, and median hospital stay was one night.

Patients with presbylaryngis demonstrated significant improvement in both objective and subjective measures of vocal quality following bilateral medialization thyroplasty. These data suggest that medialization thyroplasty is a safe option that warrants consideration in the treatment of presbylaryngis.