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What is Microlaryngeal Surgery?



Microlaryngeal surgery, or phonomicrosurgery, has been developed since 19th Century as the observation of the larynx through reflecting mirrors began. Laryngeal mirrors (tools with small mirrors attached which are used to see into the larynx through the mouth) provided the most significant part of understanding and treating vocal fold diseases.


Benign vocal fold diseases including vocal nodules, vocal polyp, sulcus vocalis, vocal cyst, and adhesive vocal folds are limited to the lamina propria which affects the movement of epithelium that covers the vocal folds and the mucosa.

Submucosal infusion technique

The submucosal infusion is a technique which recovers the voice by separating the mucous membrane with lesion and the lamina propria of the vocal folds and preserving the lamina propria when performing the surgery.

The instruments used are
(1) 2cc Luer-Lock 27G microscopic needle
(2) 1:20000 epineprine with sterile saline

Diagram of submucosal infusion technique

Micro Mini-flap Surgery

As the microstructure of the vocal folds and the process of healing in benign vocal fold diseases, have been demonstrated, studies have proved the significance of preserving the lamina propria of the vocal folds and the importance of vocal rest and rehabilitation (Influence of phonation on basement membrane zone recovery after phonomicrosurgery: a canine model. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 2000;109:658-666 in collaboration with Hyung-tae Kim)As a result of these studies, surgical operations of the vocal folds including the micro mini-flap surgery which can bring the voice to original condition have been developed. Using the micro mini-flap surgery, positive vocal fold surgeries which could not be performed in professional vocalists or singers to be performed.

Microscopic diagram of micro mini-flap surgery

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