Editorial - Otolaryngology Online Journal (2021) Volume 11, Issue 3

Phonomicrosurgery for Recalcitrant Vocal Fold Lesions

Matthew S Broadhurst^*

ENT Specialist, Ear Nose and Throat -Otolaryngology, Queensland Voice Centre, Australia

*Corresponding Author:

Matthew S Broadhurst
ENT Specialist, Ear Nose and Throat -Otolaryngology, Queensland Voice Centre, Australia
E-mail: mattbroadhurst@mac.com

Received Date: March 22, 2021; Accepted Date: March 24, 2021; Published Date: March 31, 2021

Editorial

Background: The human vocal folds undergo a tremendous amount of soft tissue trauma. As such, they are susceptible to phonotraumatic lesions including nodules, cyst and polyp. These lesions arise from an acute event and can persist with varying degrees of hoarseness and impact on the individual’s occupation, productivity and social interactions. Achieving precise phonomicrosurgical resection in conjunction with carefully directed speech therapy provides patients with the highest chance of successful long term vocal rehabilitation.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting from 2008 to 2016 with phonotraumatic lesions were included. All patients had pre- surgery high-definition videostroboscopy and completed the voice handicap index (VHI), singing voice handicap index (SVHI) when appropriate and voice-related quality of life (VRQOL). Minimum patient follow-up was six months. Outcome measures were recurrence, requirement for revision surgery, improvement in the VHI, SVHI, VR-QOL and post-surgery videostroboscopy. Results: 280 patients were included (169 female). Complete data was available on 182 patients with the majority comprising teachers and singers. The VHI was substantially elevated pre-surgery and significantly lowered by subepithelial resection. Videostroboscopy showed substantial improvement in surface pliability and glottal closure following surgery. There were two recurrences and one patient subsequently developed a unilateral vocal fold polyp 18 months after initial surgery for nodules. Conclusion: Phonomicrosurgery with speech therapy can enable optimal vocal rehabilitation in patients with phonotraumatic lesions. Surgery can definitively restore vocal fold pliability and glottal closure translating to significantly improve if not normal phonation with long term success and negligible recurrence.