STATUS OF THE MUCOSAL WAVE POST VOCAL CORD INJECTION VERSUS THYROPLASTY

Vocal cord injection and thyroplasty are two techniques available for the treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The goal of surgery is to restore the voice to as near-normal quality as possible and to prevent aspiration. The status of the mucosal wave of the vocal folds has a significant relationship to the quality of the voice. It has been noted by several authors that injection of Teflon often results in a stiff vocal cord with poor voice quality. It has also been observed that thyroplasty may preserve the mucosal wave. We used video stroboscopy to assess the status of vocal fold vibration and the mucosal wave in a series of patients who had undergone vocal cord injection or thyroplasty. A total of 21 patients were studied, and the results were analyzed with regard to status of the mucosal wave and presence of nonvibrating segments of the vocal folds. The results suggest that Teflon injection is more likely to decrease the mucosal wave and to stiffen the vocal fold.