International Journal of Phonosurgery & Laryngology

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VOLUME 12 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2022 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

The Effect of Short Duration vs Long Duration Voice Rest on the Outcome of Phonosurgery for Benign Vocal Fold Lesions: A Pilot Study

Jijo George, Unnikrishnan K Menon, Archana M Varghese

Keywords : Benign vocal fold lesion, Hoarseness, Phonomicrosurgery, Voice rest

Citation Information : George J, Menon UK, Varghese AM. The Effect of Short Duration vs Long Duration Voice Rest on the Outcome of Phonosurgery for Benign Vocal Fold Lesions: A Pilot Study. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2022; 12 (1):1-4.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10023-1232

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-07-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Patients with benign vocal fold lesions often present with hoarseness. The mainstay of treatment is precise excision, termed phonomicrosurgery, and voice rest is recommended afterward to promote wound healing and better voice outcomes in the postoperative phase. However, there is no general consensus among the clinicians about the type and duration of voice rest needed. This study is an initial attempt to compare the effect of strict voice rest of short duration (1 day) vs long duration on the voice outcome postsurgery. Materials and methods This being a pilot study, 10 patients undergoing phonomicrosurgery for benign vocal fold lesions, were chosen. They were alternately divided into two groups of short duration and long duration strict voice rest. Five patients were advised to follow 1 day's strict voice rest and other five, 7 days’ voice rest. Pre and postoperative voice parameters of each patient were recorded, analyzed, and compared. To compare the pre and postchanges of voice parameters, Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied and to compare the median difference of numerical variables between groups, Mann–Whitney U test was applied. Results: While comparing the difference in voice parameters between the preoperative and postoperative periods in each group separately, almost all voice parameters showed statistically significant association. However, when comparing the changes between the groups, Voice Handicap Index (VHI) score was the only voice parameter which showed significant association (p-value 0.047). Conclusion: In this pilot study, voice rest has positive impact on voice outcome postsurgery; and longer duration of absolute voice rest was found to give more subjective satisfaction regarding voice quality, based on the VHI score.


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