Phonatory mechanisms after vertical partial laryngectomy with glottic reconstruction by false vocal fold flap

A prospective randomized study was designed to compare phonatory mechanisms in patients treated with frontolateral partial laryngectomy (FLPL) with or without glottic reconstruction with false vocal fold (FVF) mucosal flap. O bjective voice assessment was based on computerized acoustic recordings and videolaryngostroboscopy per-formed before, I year after, and 2 years after surgery. Phonatory mechanisms were studied according to the surgical techn ique and correlated with acoustic recordings. The results showed that supra glottic structures participated in laryngeal closure and voice production i n 80% of cases in which a standard FLPL was performed. The FVF mucosal flap was involved in both laryngeal closure and voice production in 54% of pati ents treated with glottic reconstruction. The type of laryngeal closure (gl ottic or supraglottic) statistically influenced the acoustic measurements. As glottic closure is more frequent in patients treated with glottic recons truction, the authors recommend performing reconstruction of the glottis wi th an FVF mucosal flap when an FLPL is indicated.