Overall evaluation of effectiveness of type II thyroplasty for adductor spasmodic dysphonia.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To assess the effectiveness of type II thyroplasty with a titanium bridge in adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD).

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review, patient response to a questionnaire on the ease of phonation and voice quality, and pre- and postoperative fiberoptic laryngoscope findings.

SUBJECTS: Forty-one patients who underwent type II thyroplasty with a titanium bridge between December 2002 and December 2005 who have been followed for at least 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: Six patients were male, and 35 were female. The voice was recorded before and at least 6 months after surgery. Initially, 97.6%, 61%, and 48.8% of the patients had a strangulated, interrupted, or tremulous voice, respectively. The mean ratings of strangulation, interruption, and tremor were calculated. The respective mean pre- and postoperative scores were 1.51 and 0.46 for strangulation, 0.76 and 0.05 for interruption, and 0.65 and 0.048 for tremor. In the postoperative questionnaire, 70% of the patients judged their voice as excellent and the remaining patients as improved to good or fair.

CONCLUSIONS: Type II thyroplasty is a highly effective therapy for AdSD. The voice in AdSD may roughly be classified into strangulated, tremulous, and interrupted types. The outcome measures justify the continued treatment of AdSD with type II thyroplasty.