Objective: In this study, the complaints of the patients operated for bilateral abductor paralysis, etiological results, postoperative functional results, the decanulation period of post operation and the efficiency of the surgical technique were assessed.

Materials and Methods: Ten women and 1 men (11 patients) in our clinic between the years of 2002-2008, with bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis were included in this study. Four of the patients received Thornell technique, 7 of the patients underwent total arytenoidectomy with the modified technique popularized by Kleinsasser (2/3 of the ipsilateral cord was resected). Etiological results, postoperative functional results, the decanulation period of post operation, the efficiency of the surgical technique and subjective changes in voice quality were asssessed.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 49±16.2. All cord paralysis were caused by thyroidectomy. The common complaints of the patients were the difficulty in breathing and hoarseness. Four patients were applied tracheotomy in another clinic. All the patients had adequate respiratory functions. There were no problems like aspiration and synechia in postoperative patients. Subjective voice assessment in the second month of the postoperation was good in 5 of the patients (45.4%), medial in 4 of the patients (36.3%) and bad in 2 of the patients (18.1%). The patients who were applied tracheotomy were decanulated 8.7±1.2 days on average.

Conclusion: Although there weren't many cases, the results that we obtained from Thornell and Kleinsasser operations revealed that adequate respiratory space was obtained and voice quality could be accepted.