The results of treatment of 82 patients with chronic laryngeal stenosis during a 20-year period are presented. Road traffic accidents accounted for 30% of the cases and iatrogenic disease for 40%. Of the stenoses 10% were supraglottic, 20% glottic, 50% subglottic, and 15% combined. Virtually all patients with supraglottic stenosis had a good result as regards voice and airway, and we describe the use of a laryngeal widening operation for this group of patients. Over 80% of patients with glottic stenosis achieved good results. However, patients with a subglottic stenosis did badly, and only 60% were relieved of their tracheostomies. Patients with stenosis due to previous tracheostomy or to systemic disease such as Wegener's granuloma did badly.