Summary
Objective
To evaluate whether vocal function exercises (VFE) could be an adjunct treatment for
patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) who were not satisfied with their
postoperative voices after reinnervation surgeries.
Study Design
Retrospective.
Methods
Medical records of the patients with UVFP who underwent laryngeal reinnervation between
October 2011 and October 2014 were reviewed. Patients were classified into two groups:
one received VFE according to patients’ desire (VFE group) and the other did not have
voice therapy (control group). Effects of VFE were assessed by vocal fold vibration
(regularity, amplitude and glottal gap), aerodynamic measurements (maximum phonation
time (MPT) and mean airflow rate (MFR)), GRBAS scale, acoustic parameters (pitch range,
pitch perturbation and amplitude perturbation quotients (PPQ, APQ), and noise-to-harmonics
ratio (NHR)) and subjective evaluation by patients (Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10)).
Phonatory function was also compared between the two groups at three time points:
before reinnervation surgery, before VFE, and after VFE.
Results
Thirty patients were enrolled (11 men, 19 women). The VFE group included eight patients,
and 22 patients served as controls. In the VFE group, several parameters (amplitude,
MPT, MFR, pitch range, APQ, and NHR) did not improve significantly after surgery,
while all parameters examined improved significantly in the control group. After VFE,
amplitude, glottal gap, MFR, B score, pitch range, and PPQ showed significant improvement,
while the control group did not show a significant improvement except in VHI-10, during
the corresponding period. Significant differences in G and B scores and VHI-10 between
the two groups were observed at the third time point.
Conclusions
VFE may be used as an adjunct treatment for patients with UVFP who are not satisfied
with their voices after reinnervation surgery. However, phonatory function after VFE
may not reach the same level as for those who are satisfied with their voices after
reinnervation surgery.
Key Words
Level of Evidence
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 24, 2022
Accepted:
May 24,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
