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Background: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is an idiopathic spinal disease common in the elderly and characterized by flowing ossification and osteophyte formation along the spinal column. Cervical hyperostosis is capable of producing dysphagia, stridor, and airway obstruction; however, there are no extant reports of true paralysis of bilateral vocal folds in patients fulfilling the criteria for DISH., Methods and Results: We report a case of a 61-year-old man presenting with dysphagia and dyspnea. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed bilateral true vocal fold paralysis. Cervical radiograph showed flowing ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament with preservation of intervertebral disc height. Tracheotomy and cervical osteophytectomy were performed, after which the patient showed improved swallowing and speaking ability and was decannulated without complication., Conclusion: In the case presented, cervical osteophytectomy dramatically reversed bilateral vocal fold paralysis and dysphagia secondary to hyperostosis, thus negating the need for prolonged tracheostomy and feeding tube dependence. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: E1-E3, 2017., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) can cause persistent or recurrent airway obstruction. Although there is extensive literature on surgical techniques to treat LTS at onset, there are few techniques described for complex adult LTS after failed prior airway surgery. We describe a procedure used successfully in 3 patients who required structural augmentation for complex LTS., Methods: Patients were treated with staged reconstruction using a prefabricated composite graft consisting of auricular cartilage and a radial forearm free flap., Results: All patients underwent successful reconstruction with good wound healing and are tolerating oral diets. Two patients have been successfully decannulated., Conclusion: A delayed prefabricated graft using auricular cartilage in a radial forearm free flap is a viable surgical intervention in patients with complex adult LTS who are not candidates for conventional approaches., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) is an option for laryngeal cancer resection that preserves laryngeal function; however, little information exists regarding factors that are associated with functional outcomes., Methods: A medical chart review was performed on patients that underwent SCPL at our institution between 2006 and 2011. Data were collected on surgical, voice, and swallowing outcomes., Results: Eighteen patients were identified. Thirteen underwent cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) and 5 had a cricohyoidopexy (CHP). Mean follow-up was 737 days. On average, decannulation occurred at 27.4 days and feeding tube removal at 87.9 days postoperatively. Sixty-seven percent of patients tolerated an unrestricted diet at follow-up. Increased age and a CHP procedure were associated with negative outcomes. Age may be a proxy for more extensive disease and prior treatments., Conclusion: Patients who undergo an SCPL require extensive rehabilitation after surgery. Those who have undergone multiple cancer interventions and have more extensive surgery may be at risk for poorer outcomes., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)