I was diagnosed with adductor-SD early this year. Up to this point, I've had some success in recovering my voice via voice-therapy. However,it's been a challenging factor in much of the carryover. Two weeks ago I started taking neurotin on a trial basis and will be giving it 2 or 3 months to see if I can benifit from it.

Nevertheless, If all else fails, I'm considering the Thyroplasty-type II surgery in the near future as an alternative means in treating my SD since I'm partial to the prolong use of Botox or the DE-RE Operation.

I'm aware that this procedure doesn't seem to be widely available in the U.S. I'm in S.California and I'd be interested in finding a surgeon within my state. Would anyone know a particular surgeon that can be recommended? So far Dr.Kaufman from the Wake Forest University Baptist hospital in NC seems to be one of the few advertising the procedure. BTW, does anyone know the approximate medical cost for this procedure? Your input is greatly appreciated.

-Mig

Welcome to the SD bulletin board and hopefully more people will be able to help you with information on the Type 2 Thyroplasty. This procedure is relatively new in North America and I found an up-to-date link to an Australian medical publication. It might give you leads on N. American surgeons who have done this procedure or know something about it. I know Dr. Nicolas Maragos from Mayo Clinic in Rochester has also done this procedure and spoke about the many different types of Thyroplasties at the recent NSDA Scottsdale symposium.

You will find notes from this conference at the dystonia on-line support group's website at http://www.dystonia-support.org/

Scroll down to Symposium Reports then find the notes for NSDA Scottsdale March 2002.

Good luck, Mig and keep in touch and let us know more as you find out more about this type of surgery.

http://www.voicedoctor.net/links/physicians.html