Quality-of-life assessment in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to identify the impact of unilateral vocal cor d paralysis (UVCP) on an individual's quality of life both before and after thyroplasty. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a prospective observational outcome stud y of consecutive patients presenting to a laryngology clinic with UVCP. Par ticipants received The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item Health Sur vey (SF-36), the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and the Voice Outcome Survey ( VOS). Patients underwent medialization laryngoplasty with silastic, with or without arytenoid adduction. Outcome measures were repeated after surgery. RESULTS: A review of 45 patients at presentation revealed statistically sig nificant reductions in quality of life as measured by each survey. Marked i mprovements were noted after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our preoperative data support a profile of significant general health-related and voice-related limitations caused by UVCP. Patient perce ptions improved significantly after the surgical treatment of glottal insuf ficiency. SIGNIFICANCE., The SF-36, VHI, and VOS provide an important complement to t raditional endpoints in the analysis of patients with UVCP.