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Effect of voice therapy on vocal fold polyp treatment

  • Laryngology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the role of voice therapy (VT) and factors that may affect the response to VT in the treatment of vocal fold polyps, especially as a complement to phonosurgery.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients with vocal fold polyp undergoing surgery and/or VT in a tertiary medical center. The demographic data, phoniatric history, videolaryngostroboscopic findings, polyp characteristics, VHI-10 and GRB scores, and voice analysis data were recorded before and after the treatment. The patients were grouped as those who had undergone endolaryngeal microsurgery only (Group S), those who had first received VT then undergone surgery due to inadequate VT outcome (Group VTpS), and those who had only undergone VT with a follow-up plan (Group VT).

Results

Data were reviewed from 211 (108 M, 103 F) patients with a mean age of 41.3 ± 11 years. The improvement in all voice-related variables observed in the S and VTpS groups was significantly greater compared to the VT group despite the degree of improvement achieved in this group. At the end of the treatment period, improvements in G-R-B, VHI-10 and stroboscopy scores were significantly greater in the VTpS group than in the S and VT groups.

Conclusion

Voice therapy can improve voice quality to some extent during the treatment of vocal fold polyps. However, VT alone is unsatisfactory compared to surgery alone. Pre-surgical VT can enhance the ultimate success of treatment. A young age, small polyps, and short duration of dysphonia may increase the possibility of benefiting from VT.

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Funding

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, 09100, Aydın, Turkey

    Mustafa Sahin & Murat Dogan

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey

    Sercan Gode, Tayfun Kirazli & Fatih Ogut

Authors
  1. Mustafa Sahin
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  2. Sercan Gode
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  3. Murat Dogan
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  4. Tayfun Kirazli
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  5. Fatih Ogut
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Correspondence to Mustafa Sahin.

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For this type of retrospective study, formal consent is not required.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Sahin, M., Gode, S., Dogan, M. et al. Effect of voice therapy on vocal fold polyp treatment. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 275, 1533–1540 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4962-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4962-z

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