Correction of the glosso-larynx and resultant positional changes of the hyoid bone and cranium.

In ankyloglossia with deviation of the epiglottis and larynx (ADEL) the tongue is located forward and as a result the epiglottis is elevated and leans towards the mouth. The larynx is also raised and curves ventrally. Various symptoms have been observed as a result of this condition. Correction of the glosso-larynx (CGL) is the operation performed to treat ADEL. The CGL procedure and the results obtained with it are reported in this paper. In addition, we studied the following six parameters using head and neck X-rays before and after CGL (the changes in these parameters as a result of CGL are shown in parentheses): (i) the shortest vertical length between the hyoid bone and mandible (+ 10.3 mm); (ii) the vertical length between the hyoid bone and the tangent line of C2-4 (+ 4.6 mm); (iii) the shortest length between the hyoid bone and the chin (+ 2.9 mm); (iv) the angle between the hyoid bone and the tangent line of C2-4 (+ 3.3 degrees); (v) the length of H-M, where H is the intersection of a tangent line of C2-4 and a vertical line from the hyoid bone and M is the intersection of a tangent line of C2-4 and the mandible (+ 7.4 mm); and (vi) the width of the narrowest part of the hypopharynx (+ 3.0 mm). The changes in all the measured parameters after CGL were significantly different (p <0.05).