We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Thyroplasty?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 27,264
Share

A thyroplasty is a surgery which is designed to address weakened vocal cords. In the surgery, the doctor changes the length or position of the vocal cords to make them stronger. This surgery can be performed to correct voice disorders and to address issues such as coughing or choking while swallowing which may arise as a result of weakening in the vocal cords. An ear, nose, and throat surgeon is usually chosen to perform the procedure.

When the vocal cords become weak, the voice can become breathy and stressed. It is difficult to talk, and the patient may feel uncomfortable with the sound of his or her voice. In addition, it can be hard for people to hear or understand the patient. The weakening can also cause problems with eating or drinking which may lead to malnutrition or unintended weight loss.

In a thyroplasty procedure, the patient is usually placed under sedation and given a local anesthetic. The surgeon makes a small incision in the neck to access the vocal cords. After making adjustments and possibly implanting a wedge to strengthen the vocal cords, the surgeon can ask the patient to talk. This allows the surgeon to judge the success of the procedure right away, and to make any needed adjustments. The procedure can take one to two hours in total.

After the thyroplasty procedure, the incision is closed, and the patient is taken to recovery to rest. Patients are usually advised to refrain from straining their voices during recovery, and may be given dietary recommendations. Until the incision heals and the stitches are removed, the patient must be careful to keep the surgical site dry. Antibiotics are also typically prescribed as a prophylactic to prevent infection.

Once the site is fully healed, the patient should be able to use her or his voice normally. If problems persist after the thyroplasty, additional evaluation may be needed to learn more about why the patient is experiencing speech problems. It can also help to work with a speech pathologist who can help the patient with speaking and swallowing.

When selecting a surgeon to work with for a thyroplasty, it is advisable to look up the surgeon's record, and to ask the surgeon about his or her experience. A competent surgeon will be happy to talk to patients about how many surgeries she or he has performed, and what kind of outcomes patients experience. The surgeon should also fully disclose potential risks so that the patient can make an informed decision about the surgery.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a The Health Board researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon245611 — On Feb 06, 2012

How much does this surgery cost?

By anon143128 — On Jan 15, 2011

My wife had a thyroplasty implant 14 years ago. That one was dislodged by an anesthesiologist when he inserted tubes into her throat during a gall bladder operation.

The medical people were told prior to operation that she had had a throat operation years earlier, but we had not described the thyroplasty implant. We assume the people operating did not see the implant, so 18 months ago a larger implant was installed (decision by our specialist at the time). He said he thought a larger one would be better. Now her voice has deteriorated and so an appointment has been made with the same specialist to examine her. We may discover that a smaller one is the answer. Much choking and coughing has developed over the past several months.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-a-thyroplasty.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.