Recovery of vibratory function after vocal fold microflap in a rabbit model.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the return of vibratory function and restoration of vibration amplitude and symmetry after vocal fold microflap surgery. STUDY DESIGN Prospective in vivo animal model. METHODS Microflap surgery was performed on 30 New Zealand white breeder rabbits. The left vocal fold received a 3-mm epithelial incision and mucosal elevation, while the contralateral vocal fold was left intact to serve as an internal control. Quantitative analysis of amplitude ratio and lateral phase difference were measured using high-speed laryngeal imaging at a frame rate of 10,000 frames per second from animals undergoing evoked phonation on postoperative days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. RESULTS Quantitative measures revealed a significantly reduced amplitude ratio and lateral phase difference on day 0 after microflap. These impairments of vibratory function on day 0 were associated with separation of the vocal fold's body-cover layer. Amplitude ratio increased significantly by day 3 after microflap, with further increases in vibration amplitude on days 5 and 7. While the amplitude ratio improved significantly on day 3, lateral phase difference decreased significantly on day 3, and returned to normal on days 5 and 7. CONCLUSIONS High-speed laryngeal imaging was used to investigate the natural time course of postmicroflap recovery of vibratory function. Results revealed the restoration of vibration amplitude and lateral phase difference by days 3 to 7 after microflap. The time period of improved vibratory function observed in this study coincides with the end of the well-documented inflammatory phase of vocal fold wound repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A.