THE EFFECT OF UNILATERAL ARYTENOID LATERALIZATION ON RIMA GLOTTIDIS AREA IN CANINE CADAVER LARYNGES

Five modifications of a cricoarytenoid lateralization and two modifica tions of a thyroarytenoid lateralization laryngoplasty technique were evaluated for their effect on rima glottidis area. All procedures and evaluations were performed on canine cadaver larynges. Cricoarytenoid lateralization (GAL) techniques provided a greater increase of the siz e of the glottic opening than did any of the thyroarytenoid lateraliza tion techniques. Cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid disarticulation ass ociated with CAL did not significantly increase glottic size compared with normal. After disarticulation of the cricoarytenoid joint, there was no difference in glottic enlargement whether the suture was placed through the muscular process or through the articular facet of the ar ytenoid cartilage. Transection of the sesamoid band combined with cric oarytenoid diarticulation distorted the dorsal margin of the rima glot tidis. (C) Copyright 1996 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeo ns