Voice quality after thyroplasty type I using a silicone block

AIM: 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. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.