Cricothyroid approximation using a silastic sheath: a new approach.

Transsexualism is a gender identity disorder in which affected individuals believe themselves to be born into the wrong sex. Hormonal therapy and many surgical interventions were adopted in order to change their appearances. Cricothyroid approximation is the most acceptable surgical intervention to raise the vocal pitch in male to female transsexuals. Long-term follow up of this surgery revealed some failure partially due to cutting of the sutures through the cricoid and thyroid cartilages. In this report we would like to describe the first case of cricothyroid approximation using a silastic sheath interposed between the cartilages and the mattress suture to circumvent such a complication.