Evaluating Patient Benefit From Laryngochondroplasty.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Gender-Affirming Care
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Laryngochondroplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce the prominence of the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple).
• This procedure is often sought by male-to-female transgender individuals as part of their gender affirmation process.
• Assessing patient-reported outcomes is crucial for evaluating the efficacy of such interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the surgical technique for laryngochondroplasty in male-to-female transgender patients.
• To evaluate the benefits of laryngochondroplasty using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series design was employed.
• The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) survey was administered to patients who underwent laryngochondroplasty.
• Demographic data and concomitant gender-affirming surgeries were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 73 out of 91 patients (80% response rate) completed the GBI survey.
• Patients reported statistically significant improvements in overall GBI scores and all subscores (general, social, physical).
• Average patient age was 31.4 years, with a median wait time of 95.7 days for surgery.

Conclusions:

• Laryngochondroplasty is a safe and effective procedure for male-to-female transgender patients seeking to reduce thyroid cartilage prominence.
• The procedure leads to significant improvements in patient-reported quality of life.
• The GBI is a valuable tool for quantifying the benefits of laryngochondroplasty.