J. Pieter Noordzij, MD Peak Woo, MD

Glottal area waveform (GAW) is an objective measure of vocal fold vibratory capability. It is derived from the quantitative analysis of the video stroboscopic image. A GAW analysis was performed on 24 patients before and after microlaryngeal phonosurgery. Patients with vocal fold polyps, nodules, cysts, sulcus vocalis, and Reinke's edema were included. The GAW is 20 glottal area values from a representative glottal cycle graphed versus time. From each GAW, 5 parameters were determined: maximum glottal area, maximum opening speed, maximum closing speed, open time quotient, and glottal gap size. Statistically significant differences in postoperative states included 1) increased maximum area, 2) increased maximum opening speed, and 3) increased maximum closing speed. This study documents the importance of restoration of vocal fold vibratory function as a critical factor in the evaluation of phonomicrosurgical results. The measures of closing and opening speeds are objective measures of vocal fold pliability that have clinical relevance.