Laryngeal pathological findings following trauma to cricoarytenoid joint

Abnormal vocal cord mobility may result from trauma to the cricoarytenoid joint. A rabbit model of this kind of trauma was established in order to investigate pathological changes of the traumatized joint. Two types of pathological changes in the cricoarytenoid joint (acute inflammatory reaction in the early stage and fibrosis in the later stage) were noted. The above phenomena might be the mechanism of vocal cord dysfunction caused by trauma to the cricoarytenoid joint. The recovery of vocal cord function may depend on whether or not there is fibrosis of the cricoarytenoid joint. It is almost impossible to regain normal vocal cord function as soon as fibrosis of the joint occurs. Therefore, it is important to treat the patients effectively and immediately in the early stage of trauma for recovery.