Phonosurgical Injection Approaches for Voice Restoration After Open Partial Horizontal Laryngectomies: A Pilot Study

Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of phonosurgical corrective approaches based on injection laryngoplasties and pharyngoplasties followed by speech therapy for voice restoration after unsatisfactory phonatory results of open partial horizontal laryngectomies. Methods: Ten patients with not satisfying phonatory results despite speech therapy after type II or type III open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs) were included. Each patient underwent a voice restoration program based on phonosurgery (injection laryngoplasty and/or injection pharyngoplasty) with hyaluronic acid and/or calcium hydroxyapatite, followed by post-surgical voice rehabilitation. Voices were recorded and analysed through spectrographic, aerodynamic, perceptual, laryngoscopic and self-assessment evaluations before the treatment (T0), after 1 month (T1) and after three months (T2). Results: Significant improvements in the patients voices were found between T0, T1 and T2 concerning acoustic, perceptual, aerodynamic, laryngoscopic and self assessment evaluations. Conclusions: The results of the present study support phonosurgical injection procedures followed by speech therapy as an effective strategy for voice restoration after type II or type III OPHLs in selected patients.