The surgical effectiveness of montgomery thyroplasty implant on patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of type I thyroplasty with Montgomery prosthesis implantation for the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Methods: From May 2015 to March 2019, 46 patients (24 males, 22 females, with age range of 23-77) with unilateral vocal fold paralysis underwent thyroplasty with Montgomery prosthesis implantation in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery in both the First Affiliated Hospital of Navy Medical University and Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. The assessment methods included GRBAS auditory perception assessment, acoustic analysis such as Jitter, Shimmer, NHR and maximum phonation time (MPT). Results: Postoperative videostroboscopy observed the displacement of paralyzed vocal fold to the midline in 44 cases as well as significantly reduced glottic fissures during phonation. In the other 2 cases, glottic fissure did not reduce significantly. Compared with preoperative data, the scores of all parameters in GRBAS auditory perception assessment were lower except the parameter S, and the acoustic analysis parameters (jitter, shimmer, NHR) were smaller, and MPT was longer. All the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Revision surgery was performed in 2 patients with poor results. No serious complications occurred in all the cases. Conclusions: For the patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis who are not suitable for the laryngeal reinnervation surgery due to old age or long course of denervation, thyroplasty with Montgomery prosthesis implantation can effectively improve the voice of patients with high safety,which is worthy of promotion.