Arytenoid adduction to treat impaired adduction of the vocal fold due to rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the synovial membrane and causing joint damage and bone destruction. The symptoms of cricoarytenoid joint (CJ) arthritis often include hoarseness, and a sense of pharyngeal fullness in the throat. Sometimes, in cases with bilateral CJ involvement, an urgent tracheostomy might be required for acute airway obstruction. In this report, we describe a woman suffering from aphonia due to hampered adduction of the vocal fold which was caused by RA with unilateral CJ involvement. Arytenoid adduction surgery on the affected side was performed. She retrieved a normal voice immediately after the surgery.