The Complications of Type I Thyroplasty with Silastic Block

Song, Hyung Min; Choi, Seung Ho; Kim, Sang Yoon; Nam, Soon Yuhl

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The type I thyroplasty has become the gold standard against which glottal incompetence caused by unilateral vocal fold palsy may be improved. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the types and incidence of complications in the type I thyroplasty with sialstic block. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty-eight patients undergoing medialization thyroplasty due to unilateral vocal fold palsy between January 1996 and December 2003 were included for this study. Of 58 patients, 23 were women and 35 were men, with an age range of 18 to 88 years (average 47.8+/-16.4 years). A retrospective study was performed with medical records for surgical complications.
RESULTS
The most common complications were incompletely corrected posterior chink in four patients. Other complications include incorrected aspiration in two patients, poor voice quality requiring revision surgery in one patient and endolaryngeal extrusion of implant in one patient. But there were no airway complications acquiring intervention. The overall complication rate was 13.7% but major complication rate was 6.7%.
CONCLUSION
Complications of the type I thyroplasty with silastic block are relatively few. This procedure can be used safely in patients with unilateral vocal cord palsy. Surgeons should be well aware of complications of the type I thyroplasty with silastic block to cope with them.