Posterior glottic stenosis with arytenoid fixation is an uncommon complication of laryngeal injury. Though etiologies vary; the most common is prolonged intubation. Patients with this problem are tracheotomy dependent and have compromised voice production. There has been no acceptable approach to reconstruction of the larynx, the majority of patients being treated with some type of vocal fold lateralization. The success rate with this approach varies, and this procedure does not take advantage of the intact neuromuscular status of the larynx. Over the past 3 years we have utilized an alternative approach, to repair the stenosis and mobilize the arytenoids in 10 patients. Our surgical technique involves laryngeal exposure via a laryngofissure, the removal of posterior glottic cicatricial tissues, and the application of an autologous graft. Subsequently, all but one of the patients were able to be decannulated. Subjective postoperative voice analysis showed improved voice production. The pathophysiology for this disorder and a review of different treatment modalities are discussed.
Rhinophyma is a benign tumor of the nose. It possesses both functional and cosmetic implications. The pathophysiology of the disease is reviewed to illustrate the basis for the treatment options. Many different therapeutic modalities have been reported in the literature, each with reasonable success. A new treatment approach to this condition is developed using a combination of the Weck blade and the argon beam coagulator. This modality is found to be relatively simple and less traumatic than all the other techniques used by the senior author.
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