BIOMECHANICS OF ARYTENOID ADDUCTION SURGERY IN AN EX-VIVO CANINE MODEL

The biomechanics of arytenoid adduction surgery are not well understoo d. An excised canine larynx model was used to study the effects of var iable suture tension on glottal configuration and on vocal fold tensio n (at the midfold and the vocal process). Arytenoid adduction both med ializes the vocal fold and closes a posterior glottal chink. Vocal fol d tension at the midfold did not vary significantly with suture tensio n. As suture tension increased to approximately 100 g, vocal fold tens ion at the vocal process also increased. Beyond 100 g of suture tensio n, vocal fold tension at the vocal process did not increase. We conclu de that the effects of suture tension on the resistance to lateral mov ement are different at the midfold compared to the vocal process. Proc edures for surgical rehabilitation of vocal fold paralysis should addr ess the biomechanical subunits of the larynx individually in order to achieve optimum results.