Therapeutisches Vorgehen bei dislozierten Larynxfrakturen

Background

Acute trauma with laryngeal fracture is a rare injury affecting all functions of the larynx. Resuscitation follows the ABC principles for acute trauma life support. The priority has always been the establishment of an adequate and secure airway. To achieve optimal therapeutic long-term results, permanent stabilisation of the airway and good functional restoration of phonation and swallowing are necessary. We describe the therapy and long-term follow-up of two patients who suffered laryngeal fracture.

Case reports

The first case concerns a 31-year-old woman who suffered polytrauma with laryngotracheal separation in a car accident. The fracture was reduced and fixed utilizing miniplates. After decannulation the patient had a patent airway. She regained normal voice and was able to swallow without difficulty. The other case concerns a 16-year-old boy who suffered a laryngeal fracture in a bicycle accident. He also underwent subsequent operative therapy using adaptation plates. This patient also regained an adequate airway and a good postoperative voice. There were no problems with swallowing.

Conclusion

Chondrosynthesis with adaptation plates provides an enduring and exact fixation of laryngeal fractures. In the long term, this leads to a stable recovery of function concerning airway, voice, and swallowing.     

Functional outcomes after supracricoid laryngectomy

OBJECTIVES: Local control and 5-year survival rates are similar for patients undergoing total laryngectomy and supracricoid laryngectomy for the treatment of advanced-stage laryngeal carcinoma. However, comprehensive studies of functional outcomes after supracricoid laryngectomy are lacking. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: This investigation provides objective voice laboratory data, skilled listener impressions of voice samples, swallowing evaluations, and patient self-perceptions of speech ability obtained from 10 supracricoid laryngectomees. RESULTS: Results demonstrated variable acoustic and speech aerodynamic disturbances, hoarse-breathy vocal quality, and speech dysfluency. Patients' self-perceptions of voice revealed severe dysphonia that induced certain emotional, physical, and functional setbacks. However, blinded judges rated these individuals as possessing intelligible speech and communication skills. All patients demonstrated premature spillage of the bolus and varying degrees of laryngeal penetration, aspiration, and retention during swallowing studies. However, each patient used a compensatory strategy to protect the airway. Voice and swallowing abilities appeared to depend on the mobility of the arytenoid cartilages, base of tongue action, and residual supraglottic tissue for the creation of a competent neoglottal sphincter complex that vibrated during phonation efforts and protected the airway during deglutition. CONCLUSIONS: Supracricoid laryngectomy avoids the potential complications, limitations, and emotional problems associated with a permanent tracheostoma. All patients demonstrated intelligible voice and effective swallowing function postoperatively, supporting supracricoid laryngectomy as a suitable alternative surgical approach to the total laryngectomy in select patients.     

Rehabilitation of the crippled larynx: Application of the tucker technique for muscle-nerve reinnervation

Interruption of laryngeal innervation may partially or totally impair respiration, deglutition and phonation — the three basic laryngeal functions. Tucker has developed a principle of muscle-nerve pedicle transfer for laryngeal reinnervation to relieve airway obstruction following bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. We have applied the principle of reinnervation proposed by Tucker to treat patients not only with airway obstruction, but also with aspiration and impaired phonation due to interruption of laryngeal innervation. There were 23 patients in this study. The functional defects included: Voice alteration in 10 patients, airway obstruction in 8 and aspiration, as well as a voice change, in 5. The causes of injury were surgery in 9 patients, trauma in 5, tumor in 3, polio in 1 and a birth defect in 1 patient. No cause of nerve injury could be determined in 4 patients. The technique employed involved selective reinnervation of the laryngeal nerve branches to one or more laryngeal muscle groups; the muscle groups reinnervated were selected so as to overcome the functional defect of each particular patient. The patients have been followed for 6 mo. or longer. The results have been independently evaluated by a speech pathologist and documented by indirect and direct endoscopic observations, as well as by audio and audio-video recordings. In some cases, there was further documentation by cine-fluoro-audio tape recordings, laryngo-pharyngography, laryngeal tomography and pulmonary function studes. The muscle-pedicle transfer technique described by Tucker was found to be useful to correct laryngeal dysfunction in carefully selected cases.     

Long-term voice and swallowing modifications after supracricoid laryngectomy: objective, subjective, and self-assessment data

PURPOSE: The supracricoid laryngectomies (SCLs) are conservative surgical techniques for the treatment of selected laryngeal carcinomas. The advantage of SCL is that a permanent tracheostoma is not required, thus, maintaining the principal laryngeal functions. The aim of the study is to report objective, subjective, and self-assessment long-term results of voice and swallowing in a large group of patients who underwent SCL at least 2 years before this study was undertaken. METHODS: Twenty male subjects who underwent SCL with a mean age of 71 years (range, 51-82) were involved in a retrospective study on swallowing and vocal function. Videoendoscopic ratings were taken of neoglottic vibration patterns and bolus transit. The maximum phonation time and the syllable diadochokinesis were measured. Spectrograms were recorded. Voices were perceptually rated using the Grade, Instability, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenicity, Strain (GIRBAS) scale. All of the subjects completed a self-assessment questionnaire for both voice and swallowing. RESULTS: Videoendoscopic ratings showed moderate to severe impairment of neoglottal vibration, whereas bolus transit appeared only mildly impaired. The mean values of the GIRBAS scale were 2.4, 2.6, 2.4, 0.8, 0.5, and 0.8. The mean maximum phonation time was 7.5 seconds, whereas the mean value of the Yanagihara scale was 3.7 for voice spectrograms. Mean syllable diadochokinesis appeared as 3.3 syllables per second. Voice and swallowing quality of life questionnaires revealed satisfied patients. CONCLUSIONS: Swallowing after SCL was satisfactory; on the contrary, endoscopic, aerodynamic, perceptual, and acoustic data showed a highly dysphonic voice after SCL. However, self-assessment results revealed relatively satisfied speakers on the emotional, physical, and functional levels.     

Transit time of swallowing after subtotal laryngectomy

INTRODUCTION: The aim of subtotal laryngeal surgery (Cricohyoidopexy = CHP and Cricohyoidoepiglottopexy = CHEP) is to create a simplified but functional neolarynx. The neolarynx permits the passage of air, the closure of the airway, and ensures phonation through the vibration of the cricoid and arytenoid mucosa; furthermore, it allows the recovery of swallowing, optimizing the closure of the neoglottis with the movement of the remaining arytenoids. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, on a long-term basis, the efficiency of the swallowing function comparing swallowing times in CHEP and CHP with and without functional neck dissection (FND). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A radiological study was conducted on 48 patients selected from a group of 253, who underwent subtotal laryngectomies at the "G. Ferreri" Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Audiology and Phoniatrics of the University of Rome "La Sapienza". The selection of the 48 patients was carried out based on the following criteria: type of surgery, date of surgery (follow up of at least 12 months), patients who were not treated with radiotherapy before or after surgery, patients who were also examined with fibrolaryngoscopy and videofluoroscopy, patients not affected by motor deficits involving phonatory and swallowing regions (stroke, lesions of the central nervous system), negative follow up (no evidence of disease). The parameters for evaluating the functional recovery were the times the nasogastric tube and tracheotomy tube were kept in place. The functional recovery times of the groups thus formed were compared to one another Through videofluoroscopy the authors evaluated oral transit times (OTT) and pharyngeal transit times (PTT) as parameters of deglutition. RESULTS: The results consistently showed that swallowing time remains under one second as in individuals with normal swallowing functions. CONCLUSION: The study of deglutition times, conducted at least 12 months after surgery, does not show any substantial differences between CHEP and CHP with reference to pharyngeal transit and oral transit times.     

Vibratory source, vocal quality and fundamental frequency following pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: Surgeons who perform pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) have traditionally measured outcomes based on successful airway restoration. Additional information regarding post-surgical vocal function may help guide outcomes toward optimal voice. This investigation documented the relationship between the site of vocal tract vibratory source (glottic versus supraglottic versus mixed) and vocal function in children following LTR. METHODS: Endoscopic evaluation of voice source was completed in 16 participants who had LTR as children. Three judges rated vocal quality using the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V). Acoustic analysis was completed to obtain fundamental frequency and determine the periodicity of the vibratory signal. RESULTS: Seven participants were identified to have glottic vibration and nine had supraglottic or mixed-source vibration for voice. All participants were rated as having some degree of voice disorder. Those who used primarily supraglottic/mixed phonation exhibited significantly worse overall severity, roughness, and pitch deviance ratings than did those who used primarily glottic phonation. Significant differences in strain were also noted; however, poor inter-rater reliability rating of strain confounded this result. No significant differences in breathiness or loudness ratings were exhibited. Periodic vibration was observed in 10 of 16 participants (5 of 7 in the glottic group and 5 of 9 in the supraglottic/mixed group). Three of the five participants who had periodic supraglottic phonation had fundamental frequency measures (F(0)) that were below normative ranges, 1 approximated normal, and 1 was above normal range. Two of the five participants who had periodic glottic phonation had lower than expected F(0)s, 1 was within normal range, and 2 were high. CONCLUSIONS: As observed in earlier studies, voices produced with supraglottic phonation were generally less acceptable than those with glottic phonation. However, phonation with supraglottic structures yielded highly variable voice that may be amenable to change. Some children achieved periodic vibration with alternate structures, suggesting inherent flexibility and adaptability in the tissues used to make sound.     

Functional Analysis After Supracricoid Partial Laryngectomy With Cricohyoidoepiglottopexy

Objectives To assess prospectively speech and swallowing function in a series of 17 patients after supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy. Study Design Retrospective study. Methods From 1983 to 1996, 69 patients at Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHUV (Lausanne, Switzerland) underwent a supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy. Seventeen of them (25%) could be contacted and accepted participation in a functional evaluation that included a questionnaire to document their present nutritional status and diet. A formal voice evaluation was also performed, which included psychoacoustic evaluation of vocal qualities, fundamental frequency parameters, phonation intensity range, phonatory quotient (vital capacity divided by maximum phonation time), and a laryngeal video laryngoscopy performed with a rigid endoscope. Results Median postoperative follow‐up was 66 months (range, 12–152 mo). Nine of 17 patients (53%) recovered a normal diet with no increased incidence of aspirations. Seven of 17 had minor limitations such as no peanuts, dry bread, or rice. Two of 17 patients were restricted to pureed food. Assessment of voice showed a clearly decreased mean fundamental frequency at 70.1 Hz (normal range, 121–211 Hz) and a narrowed frequency range of phonation with a mean value of 8.8 semitones (normal value, 27). Forty‐two percent of the patients went back to their normal professional life after the operation. Among the 10 who did not, 3 (16%) retired and 7 actually had to give up their profession, because of the modification of their voice or general asthenia and age close to retirement. Conclusion Restoration of laryngeal function after supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy is satisfactory. Although most of the patients seem to recover normal swallowing function, severe voice alterations appear to be inevitable.     

The use of cervical fascia for hypopharyngeal reconstruction with laryngeal preservation

Surgical resection of carcinomas of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall and reconstruction of defects with preservation of laryngeal function and swallowing are complex surgical problems. The various reconstructive procedures have been well described. There is no uniform agreement among surgeons as to which of the most frequently used techniques offers the best results. We use the cervical fascia in a new method for reconstruction of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall after carcinoma resection with preservation of laryngeal functions. Reconstruction with the fascia flap was used in eight selected patients. The surgical technique is easy and oncologically safe, with a short operative time and low complication rate. The cervical fascia proved to be good quality biological material for the reconstruction of two-dimensional defects. Functional results of swallowing, respiration and phonation have been satisfactory. Based on our experience and good results using the cervical fascia flap, this method has proven to be very beneficial in select patients with carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.     

Comparison of voice characteristics following three different methods of treatment for laryngeal cancer

INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal cancer treatment has become more complex and diversified in past decades. Many different methods of treatment have evolved, and most have been able to restore the patient's function and maintain some form of functional speech. This study was designed to evaluate the voice and speech characteristics of patients who have undergone different treatments for laryngeal cancer and to compare those characteristics with those of age- and sex-matched normal laryngeal speakers. METHODS: Twenty-two male subjects participated in the study. Five men were treated with radiation therapy, 6 men had supracricoid partial laryngectomy, 6 men had undergone total laryngectomy with tracheoesophageal puncture, and 5 men were normal laryngeal speakers. Acoustic, aeromechanical, and perceptual assessments of speech were collected. RESULTS: Significant age effects were found for maximum phonation times. As age increased, maximum phonation time decreased (p < .005). Significant differences were found between groups for the following dependent variables: percentage of voiceless phonation, maximum phonation time, laryngeal airway resistance, subglottal pressure, oral flow, and word intelligibility. Trends in the data for differences between groups were noted for the following acoustic variables: noise-to-harmonics ratio, jitter, and shimmer. CONCLUSIONS: All patients developed or maintained a source of voicing after treatment and could use speech functionally, as demonstrated by normal sentence intelligibility. The radiation treatment group had voices that differed the least from the control group, whereas the opposite was true for the surgical groups, especially for those with total laryngectomy.     

Tracheo-tracheal puncture for voice rehabilitation after laryngotracheal separation

For patients with intractable aspiration, laryngotracheal separation (LTS) may be the only means of protecting the airway. The LTS prevents pulmonary compromise caused by aspiration; however, airway separation from the larynx also prevents laryngeal phonation. This case report suggests a supplemental procedure to the LTS, which maintains airway protection yet allows for laryngeal communication.     

Airway complications in the head injured

Fifty head-injured patients who had tracheostomy were followed during rehabilitation by video fiberoptic laryngoscopy examination. Complications of aspiration (23/50), airway stenosis (13/50), and phonation dysfunction (16/24) were followed. Spontaneous resolution of aspiration may require a prolonged course. A majority of patients (37/50) had improvement and could be decannulated. Prognostic factors correlated to eventual decannulation included age, level on the Glasgow Coma Outcome Scale, and type of head injury. Those with poor neurologic improvement and glottic incompetence (13/50) are poor candidates for decannulation. Significant airway stenosis can involve both laryngeal and tracheal sites. Neurologic dysfunction may complicate the decannulation process after airway anatomy has been restored by surgery. Dysphonia resulting from intubation, peripheral laryngeal and nerve injury, or central laryngeal movement dysfunction are common. Preventive maintenance with ongoing evaluation can avoid airway crises such as aspiration pneumonia, hemoptysis, and innominate artery.     

Congenital absence of the epiglottis and its potential role in obstructive sleep apnea

A 3 month old girl with congenital absence of the epiglottis presents with inspiratory stridor. Over the next 8 years frank obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) develops, confirmed by polysomnography. She has no difficulty in swallowing or phonation as assessed clinically and with barium swallow. This suggests that the epiglottis may help stabilize the upper airway, and any role in swallowing or phonation may, in its absence, be compensated by other mechanisms.     

Congenital anomalies of the larynx

Congenital laryngeal anomalies are relatively rare. However, they may present with life-threatening respiratory problems in the newborn period. Associated problems with phonation and swallowing may prevent a baby from thriving. Stridor is the most common presenting symptom of congenital laryngeal abnormalities. Often, it is associated with dysphagia, aspiration, and failure to thrive. Endoscopy is essential for evaluation and diagnosis in most cases. The differential diagnosis includes laryngeal cysts, atresia and stenosis, vocal fold immobility, and subglottic hemangiomas. In this article, the authors discuss in detail the evaluation and treatment for each condition.     

保留杓状软骨喉次全切除喉功能重建的体会

目的　探讨应用保留杓状软骨的喉次全切除喉功能重建术治疗T3 喉癌 (声门及声门上型 )的拔管率和 3、5年生存率。方法　对 2 0例T3 级喉癌 ,其中声门型 3例 (T3 N0 M0 )、声门上型 17例(T3 N1 M0 5例 ,T3 N0 M0 12例 ) ,根据病变范围行保留单侧或双侧杓状软骨喉次全切除及功能重建术 ,并设计环咽吻合术式。结果　 3、5年生存率分别为 16/ 17(94 1% )和 11/ 12 (91 8% )。全部患者均恢复了吞咽和发音功能 ,拔管率为 95 0 %。结论　保留杓状软骨喉次全切除及功能重建术是治疗T3 喉癌的一种很好术式。手术的关键是不能损伤杓状软骨及喉返神经 ,设计好环咽吻合方案。     

Effects of one-way speaking valve placement on swallowing physiology for tracheostomized patients: impact on laryngeal clearance

Tracheostomy placement affects swallowing function, increasing the risk of aspiration. Recent studies suggest that because of increased risk of swallowing disturbance associated with tracheostomy, one-way speaking valve placement may help to reduce aspiration in tracheostomized patients. We hypothesize that airflow exhaled through the laryngeal cavity using the one-way speaking valve may improve the clearance of residual bolus from the upper airway, thus preventing bolus penetration and aspiration. We studied the effects of one way speaking valve placement on laryngeal clearance and swallowing physiology. Videoendoscopic and videofluoroscopic swallowing were examined in 16 patients with the tracheostomy, and swallowing was compared with and without the one-way speaking valve in place. Valve Valve placement significantly improved laryngeal clearance and the incidence of penetration during swallowing. placement did not, however, significantly affect pharyngeal bolus residue, laryngeal elevation, pharyngeal delay or aspiration. Factors associated with the resumption of oral feedings were sufficient laryngeal elevation during swallow and the prevention of laryngeal penetration and aspiration. We concluded that one-way speaking valve placement improves laryngeal clearance and prevents laryngeal penetration, resulting in better oropharyngeal swallowing physiology and oral feeding.     

保留杓状软骨喉次全切除喉功能重建的体会

探讨应用保留杓状软骨的喉次全切除喉功能重建术治疗Ｔ３喉癌的拔管率和３、５年生存率。方法对２０例Ｔ３级喉癌,其中声门型３例,声门上型１７例,根据病变范围行保留单侧或双侧杓状软骨喉次全切除及功能重建术,并设计环咽吻合术式。     

Vocal tract steadiness: a measure of phonatory and upper airway motor control during phonation in dysarthria.

Acoustic analyses of upper airway and phonatory stability were conducted on samples of sustained phonation to evaluate the relation between laryngeal and articulomotor stability for 31 patients with dysarthria and 12 non-dysarthric control subjects. Significantly higher values were found for the variability in fundamental frequency and format frequency of patients who have Huntington's disease compared with normal subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease. No significant correlations were found between format frequency variability and the variability of the fundamental frequency for any subject group. These findings are discussed as they pertain to the relationship between phonatory and upper airway subsystems and the evaluation of vocal tract motor control impairments in dysarthria.     

Laryngeal findings in advanced Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a major source of neurologic morbidity. A majority of patients with Parkinson's disease complain of problems with voice, speech, and swallowing. Treatments for these problems center on the improvement of vocal fold adduction through either speech therapy or vocal fold augmentation. No prior study has looked at laryngeal improvement after neurologic surgery, specifically deep brain stimulation, performed to treat Parkinson's disease. The goal of this study was to establish a baseline of laryngeal findings in patients who are considering deep brain stimulation. Fifteen patients underwent physical examination with videostroboscopy and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing before deep brain stimulation. In addition, they were asked to self-report voice handicap. Eighty-seven percent of patients demonstrated significant vocal fold bowing. All patients had some degree of pharyngeal residue of solids noted on evaluation of swallowing. All but one patient had a significant self-reported voice handicap. These findings are reviewed and established as a baseline for further study.     

Impact on swallowing functions of arytenoid adduction in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis

ObjectiveAlthough the pathophysiology of swallowing dysfunction in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) remains uncertain, glottal insufficiency is known to be a possible major cause, and other factors due to vagus nerve or recurrent laryngeal nerve damage may contribute to dysphagia or aspiration. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of arytenoid adduction (AA) surgery on the swallowing functions of UVFP patients and to investigate the important role of glottic closure during swallowing.MethodsWe prospectively analyzed the data of thirteen patients with UVFP who underwent AA in combination with medialization laryngoplasty (ML) for improving voice quality. The subjects received a series of examinations for not only voice function but also swallowing function and cough strength both preoperatively and approximately 6 months after surgery. The evaluations of voice function included the Voice Handicap Index and aerodynamic measures; the evaluations of swallowing function included the Eating Assessment Tool-10, liquid aspiration, a videofluorographic examination of swallowing study, and high-resolution manometry; and the evaluation of cough strength included the measurement of cough peak flow. All measurements before and after surgery were statistically compared and examined.ResultsConsiderable improvements in voice measures were observed after the procedure, as sufficient glottic closure was achieved during phonation and swallowing. In terms of swallowing evaluation, there were significant differences in the subjective assessment methods after the operation. Additionally, our intervention improved two cases of aspiration according to abnormal findings on the videofluorographic examination of swallowing. There was a significant difference in cough peak flow, with all participants having better values after surgery. High-resolution manometry revealed no significant differences between pre- and postsurgery in any parameters at the level of the mesopharynx or upper esophageal sphincter.ConclusionThe findings of our study suggest an important effect on the dysphagia of UVFP patients who undergo AA combined with ML. In addition, we revealed improvements in swallowing by strengthening incomplete glottic closure; thus, we consider that sufficient glottic closure must play an important role in swallowing function in patients with UVFP.