Medialization laryngoplasty for the treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis.

Medialization laryngoplasty has emerged in the last decade as an alternative to teflon injection for the treatment of vocal cord paralysis. The advantages of laryngoplasty include the reversibility of the procedure, the ease with which it is performed, and in experienced hands, excellent voice results. This article describes a study of 29 patients at West Virginia University Hospitals from 1990 to 1994 who underwent medialization laryngoplasty. Of these patients, 24 had good or excellent results, including one patient who required a revision. All patients with aspiration or choking had marked improvement in swallowing, choking, or aspiration. One patient required intubation for 24 hours, and none of the prostheses have extruded. We conclude that medialization laryngoplasty is an easier procedure than teflon injection, and that it preserves the vocal cord mucosal wave.