Thyroid Cartilage and Vocal Cord Reduction for Androphonia and Male to Female Transsexuals.
- Author:
Jae Won KIM
1
;
Seung Ho LEE
;
Gil Soo HAN
;
In Kug HWANG
;
Young Mo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. ymk416@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Thyroplasty;
Androphonia
- MeSH:
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Laryngoplasty;
Male;
Thyroid Cartilage;
Thyroid Gland;
Vocal Cords;
Voice;
Voice Quality
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2008;51(3):256-260
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is little literature about voice surgery for females with androphonia and male-female transsexuals. Therefore, we introduced surgical techniques and voice results of thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction for these patients. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From May 2001 to January 2007, 3 patients were found with thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction. We checked their preoperative and postoperative voice recordings, voice dynamic data and patients' subjective satisfaction with their postoperative voice. The two patients were female with androphonia and the remaining one patient was a male to female transsexuals. RESULTS: All three patients were satisfied with their postoperative voice. In the objective voice recording, the mean fundamental frequency (Fo) increased to 195 Hz from the preoperative value of 148 Hz. Furthermore, the patient who was to undergo the trans-sexual operation was more satisfied by gaining a more female appearance by losing the thyroid cartilage prominence. CONCLUSION: Thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction could give satisfactory voice quality to females with androphonia and male-female transsexuals. It is an effective surgical method to elevate vocal pitch. The long-term follow up would be needed.
