Thyroid Cartilage and Vocal Cord Reduction for Androphonia and Male to Female Transsexuals

Kim, Jae Won; Lee, Seung Ho; Han, Gil Soo; Hwang, In Kug; Kim, Young Mo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is little literature about voice surgery for females with androphonia and male-female transsexuals. Therefore, we introduced surgical techniques and voice results of thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction for these patients.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
From May 2001 to January 2007, 3 patients were found with thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction. We checked their preoperative and postoperative voice recordings, voice dynamic data and patients' subjective satisfaction with their postoperative voice. The two patients were female with androphonia and the remaining one patient was a male to female transsexuals.
RESULTS
All three patients were satisfied with their postoperative voice. In the objective voice recording, the mean fundamental frequency (Fo) increased to 195 Hz from the preoperative value of 148 Hz. Furthermore, the patient who was to undergo the trans-sexual operation was more satisfied by gaining a more female appearance by losing the thyroid cartilage prominence.
CONCLUSION
Thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction could give satisfactory voice quality to females with androphonia and male-female transsexuals. It is an effective surgical method to elevate vocal pitch. The long-term follow up would be needed.