ANALYSIS OF VOCAL FOLD FUNCTION IN THE MINISWINE MODEL

Correlation of the vocal fold vibratory pattern with the postoperative surgical wound should demonstrate to the laryngologist the critical d epth of injury at which the functional voice would be adversely affect ed. An animal model was selected to study these changes. Twelve adult miniswine were operated on in this prospective study. The right true v ocal fold was the control. An interval of 6 weeks was allowed for heal ing, and then changes in vocal fold function were studied by strobscop y, photography, voice recording, and electrolottography: Laryngectomy provided tissue for histopathological correlation. The results showed that injury at the lamina propria and vocalis muscle consistently caus ed significantly vibratory dysfunction resulting in poor phonation.