HISTOPATHOLOGY OF LARYNGEAL CHANGES AFTER LONG-TERM CHONDROSYNTHESIS

Two patients treated for laryngeal tumors at the University of Lubeck are presented. Both underwent laryngeal reconstructions with plate and screw fixation systems immediately following partial laryngectomies. Recurrent disease was found at 14 and 55 months, respectively, and was subsequently managed by total laryngectomy. The laryngectomy specimen s with the plate and screws in situ were evaluated histopathologically , paying special attention to the reaction of local tissue to the impl ants. Findings showed that the metallic plates were fixed with screws in the bony trabeculae of the laryngeal skeleton. The histological res ponse showed primary wound healing without evidence of sequestration o r implant loosening, as often associated with excess mechanical stress . Furthermore, there were no signs of tissue necrosis or widespread ch ronic inflammation. In both patients, a small discrete area of chronic inflammation and soft tissue fibrosis was noted adjacent to the screw heads. This study supports our previously documented clinical experie nce that the use of chondrosynthetic techniques is almost complication -free and is an ideal system for performing precise anatomical reconst ruction of the laryngeal skeleton.