Very long‐term Voice Handicap Index Voice Outcomes after Montgomery Thyroplasty: A cross‐sectional study

摘要

Objective The aim of this multicentric cross‐sectional study was to examine the permanency of Montgomery thyroplasty ( MTIS ) results from a patient's perspective. Design The study consisted of collecting Voice Handicap Index ( VHI ‐30) questionnaires from patients who had previously been operated with MTIS between 2 and 12?years before. Very long‐term (2?years) postoperative data were compared with the previously acquired preoperative and early postoperative VHI results. Influence of factors such as age, gender, size/side of the prosthesis and length of the follow‐up were also analysed. Setting Multicentric study involving three tertiary European voice centres. Participants Forty‐nine unilateral vocal fold paralysis ( UVFP ) patients, treated by MTIS , were included in the study. Main outcome measures The Voice Handicap Index‐30 score. Results & Conclusions The median VHI was significantly different over time‐points (Friedman's test P ??.001), with a significant difference between preoperative and early postoperative time‐points (median VHI : 70 vs 21, respectively; P ??.001) and between preoperative and very long‐term postoperative time‐points (median VHI : 70 vs 16, respectively; P ??.001). The median VHI did not differ for the early and very long‐term postoperative time‐points (median VHI : 21 vs 16; P ?=?.470). Age differences, gender differences and size/side differences of the prostheses, centres where surgery took place and length of the follow‐up showed no significant influence. Medialisation thyroplasty (MT) overall and MTIS , in particular, should be considered as a possible standard of care for UVFP when permanency of voice results is sought.