Pitch elevation in trangendered patients: anterior glottic web formation assisted by temporary injection augmentation.
UNLABELLED
Pitch elevation surgery is most often indicated to assist male-to-female transgendered individuals seeking a more feminine voice quality. Behavioral therapy is primary management but if the desired voice quality is not achieved, surgery is offered. Procedures described that raise vocal pitch alter one or more of the main parameters known to physiologically control pitch; vocal fold tension, length, and mass.


OBJECTIVE
Web formation with injection augmentation significantly raises vocal pitch in male-to-female transgendered individuals.


STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study. This report describes the voice results after anterior web formation with injection augmentation to reduce vocal fold length in a series of 10 transgendered patients.


METHODS
Retrospective review of male-to-female transgendered patients referred to St. Michaels Hospital Voice Clinic, Toronto, Canada for pitch elevation was carried out including demographic data, preoperative and postoperative acoustic data and videostroboscopic evaluation.


RESULTS
Comparison between preoperative to postoperative acoustic measures demonstrated a mean increase in fundamental frequency of 110 Hz after web formation. Perturbation measures and pitch range were unchanged from before surgery to after surgery.


CONCLUSION
This novel modification for endoscopic anterior web formation has been shown to be a successful procedure for permanent elevation of pitch with little or no morbidity.
['Anderson|Jennifer A|JA|']
D000162:Acoustics D000328:Adult D005260:Female D005262:Feminization D005931:Glottis D006801:Humans D007828:Laryngoscopy D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009864:Ontario D010898:Pitch Perception D012189:Retrospective Studies D057829:Sex Reassignment Procedures D013061:Speech Acoustics D013068:Speech Production Measurement D049489:Stroboscopy D063106:Transgender Persons D016896:Treatment Outcome D014741:Video Recording D014833:Voice Quality
Pitch elevation Endoscopic laryngeal surgery Transsexual voice