ISCA Archive Interspeech 2022
ISCA Archive Interspeech 2022

Optimal thyroplasty implant shape and stiffness for treatment of acute unilateral vocal fold paralysis: Evidence from a canine in vivo phonation model

Neha Reddy, Yoonjeong Lee, Zhaoyan Zhang, Dinesh K. Chhetri

Medialization thyroplasty is a frequently used surgical treatment for insufficient glottal closure and involves placement of an implant to medialize the vocal fold. Prior studies have been unable to determine optimal implant shape and stiffness. In this study, thyroplasty implants with various medial surface shapes (rectangular, convergent, or divergent) and stiffnesses (Silastic, Gore-Tex, soft silicone of varying stiffness, or hydrogel) were assessed for optimal voice quality in an in vivo canine model of unilateral vocal fold paralysis with graded contralateral neuromuscular stimulation to mimic expected compensation seen in patients with this laryngeal pathology. Across experiments, Silastic rectangular implants consistently result in an improved voice quality metric, indicating high-quality output phonation. These findings have clinical implications for the optimization of thyroplasty implant treatment for speakers with laryngeal pathologies causing glottic insufficiency.