Division of posterior cricoid plate in young children with subglottic stenosis.

Subglottic stenosis was corrected surgically in three young children. The key surgical maneuver is the anterior and posterior division of the cricoid cartilage. Endoscopic, xerographic and speech assessments have been done at intervals since decannulation. The anterior commissure is widened and the endolarynx deformed in two children examined. Radiographic studies indicated that increased airway diameters have been maintained to date. Speech has been adversely affected to some degree in all three patients.