Thyroplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis using an adjustable implant in porous titanium

SummaryObjectivesThe aim of this study was to describe a new porous titanium thyroplasty implant that can be adjusted with a screw.Material and methodsRetrospective study of 15 patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis undergoing type I thyroplasty under local anaesthesia. Each patient's dysphonia and swallowing disorders were evaluated both objectively and subjectively before and 3 months after thyroplasty.ResultsSpeech and swallowing disorders were improved in all the cases, except when the patients were suffering from severe associated neurological disorders (n = 3). The postoperative complications were minor including a laryngeal edema treated by corticotherapy per os (n = 1) and a superficial cervical haematoma (n = 1).ConclusionsThis implant is easy to insert and the results show high tolerance of the biomaterial and above all the improvement of functions comparable to other laryngeal implants.