The fate of medialized cartilage in thyroplasty type I.

Thyroplasty type I is rapidly emerging as the preferred means of medializing a paralyzed vocal fold. We discuss our experience with the fate of a medialized cartilage window 9 months after an otherwise successful operation. Cartilage resorption over time resulted in degeneration of voice and in progressive aspiration. We recommend removing the cartilage window rather than medializing it, in the interest of stabilizing the degree of long-term vocal fold medialization.