Vocal fold medialization with tragal cartilage and perichondrium in high vagal paralysis

Abstract

The goal of this pilot study was to test vocal fold medialization using autologous tragal cartilage and perichondrium by direct approach for treating high vagal paralysis. Five patients with the skull base tumors with involvement of the vagus nerve underwent concurrent vocal fold medialization with surgical excision. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, and at 14, 60 days, and 6 months later. Complete medialization with horizontal and vertical realignment was achieved. Improvement of voice and breathiness was correlated with the increase of closed quotient; the contact area of the vocal fold mucosa has increased. This advancement reduces breathiness and induced an improvement in subglottic pressure with aerodynamic parameters improvement, which led to stabilization of the vocal fold oscillation and a better voice quality recovery. This method can be considered a safe, quick, and efficient phonosurgical procedure combined with a skull-base surgical procedure.