[Effect of arytenoid adduction operation for vocal function of laryngeal palsy patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the curative efficiency on vocal function of 56 laryngeal palsy patients underwent arytenoid adduction operation. METHOD: Voice analysis and laryngeal aerodynamical measurement were performed for the 56 laryngeal palsy patients to compare maximum phonation time (MPT), mean flow rate (MFR), voice intensity(SPL), and expiratory pressure(EP) before and after operation. Perceptual evaluation was also performed for comparison by using GRBAS system(G). RESULT: The postoperative average MPT increased by 3.1 times in males and 2.7 times in females. The average MFR decreased apparently from 827.3 ml/s in males and 477.1 ml/s in females before operation to 340.3 ml/s and 158 ml/s after operation, which was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The average SPL increased and the average EP decreased after operation. After operation the average G decreased from 2.8 to 1.7 (P < 0.01) and the percentage of improvement over one grade was 71%. CONCLUSION: From these results mentioned above, it can be concluded that the arytenoid adduction operation might be one of the most effective operative methods to improve glottal incompetence caused by laryngeal nerve paralysis.