Voice quality after thyroplasty type I using a silicone block

The aim of the work was to evaluate the voice quality of 10 adult patients after thyroplasty type I using a silicone block. Preoperatively patients suffered from unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

We evaluated selected preoperative and postoperative patient findings (RBH according to Wendler classification, videolaryngostroboscopy and maximum phonation time MPT). The evaluation was performed by a phoniatrician and clinical speech therapist, using patient medical records and the Lingwaves and Glottis Analysis Tools (GAT) programs.

Preoperatively we identified R1B1H1 - R3B3H3, postoperatively R0B0H0 - R3B3H2. In six cases the paralysed vocal cord was preoperatively in a paramedian position, twice in intermediate position and twice in a lateral position. In the case of 6 patients presbyphonic changes were present. Motility of the healthy vocal cord was within the norm. Postoperatively, the paretic vocal cord was medialised. We assessed the MPT value: preoperatively 3‒10 seconds, postoperatively 9‒17 seconds. Postoperatively we measured jitter (%), shimmer (%) and closing quotient values. In comparison with healthy subjects (Inwald et al. 2011), jitter and shimmer values were higher and closing quotient values after thyroplasty type I close to normal values (Tab.1).

The postoperative voice quality was significantly better in comparison with the preoperative state; though, it never achieved the parameters of a normal voice. We confirmed the significant contribution of TPL I for the patients´ quality of life through partial rehabilitation of their voices.