RESUMO
PURPOSE: Medialization laryngoplasty can be performed to treat glottic incompetence after endoscopic laser cordectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate vocal outcome after this phonosurgical procedure and to analyze the critical aspects of the Montgomery and Gore-Tex laryngoplasty technique. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patients with glottic incompetence after endoscopic laser cordectomy, underwent medialization laryngoplasty with Montgomery or Gore-Tex implant between January 2013 to December 2018 at the Bufalini Hospital of Cesena, Italy. The pre- and postphonosurgery evaluation included videolaryngostroboscopy, perceptual, evaluation of dysphonia with the GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) scale, Voice Handicap Index-10, Maximum Phonation Time. The outcome was evaluated 6 months after the phonosurgical treatment. RESULTS: We treated 22 patients, 19 males and 3 females. Eight cases were treated with Montgomery implant and fourteen with Gore-Tex implant. The postphonosurgical videolaryngostroboscopy showed an improvement of the glottic closure in all patients; the scores of the Voice Handicap Index-10 and of the Maximum Phonation Time showed a statistically significant improvement after phonosurgery. The GRBAS scale scores showed a statistically significant improvement of Global Grade, Breathiness, and Asthenia; the parameter Strain remained unaltered both in pre- and postoperative evaluations, because the voice was never pressed due to glottic insufficiency, especially in preoperative observation. The parameter Roughness (R) did not show a significant difference between pre- and postoperative evaluation. CONCLUSION: Medialization laryngoplasty is an effective phonosurgical procedure to improve voice outcome, after extended endoscopic laser cordectomies, in patients with unacceptable results after voice therapy and injection laryngoplasty. In our experience the Gore-Tex implant allows the surgeon to perform a safer and more "tailored" phonosurgery in cases of cordectomies type IV and V, associated or not with radiotherapy and in revision surgery.