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.
Keywords: dysphonia; medical education; outcomes quality of life; phoniatrics; voice.
© 2018 The Authors. Clinical Otolaryngology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.