Authors: Jo YS, Kim MY, So YK
Title: Impact of Remnant Nodules on Immediate and Long-term Outcomes of Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules
Source: Journal Of Voice 2021 35(3): 400-405
Year: 2021
Research Design: Non Randomised Controlled Trial
Rating Score: N/A
To be rated
Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to assess whether remnant vocal fold nodules (VFN) influence immediate and long-term voice outcomes after voice therapy. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating immediate and long-term voice outcomes. METHODS: Twenty-five adult patients with VFN who completed voice therapy were included in this study. Patients were classified into remnant (n=18) and nonremnant (n=7) groups according to the presence of remnant nodules immediately after completion of voice therapy. Acoustic and perceptual parameters, as well as voice handicap index (VHI), were compared between groups immediately (immediate outcome) and more than 3 months (long-term outcome) after completion of voice therapy. RESULTS: Immediately after voice therapy, there were no significant differences between groups in grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenia-strain (GRBAS) score, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio, voice range profile, or s/z ratio. Postvoice therapy VHI scores did not significantly differ between the two groups (9.29 +/- 8.94 in the nonremnant group vs. 12.78 +/- 9.01 in the remnant group, P=0.392). The overall GRBAS grade of all patients was maintained at 0 or 1 during long-term follow-up. There was no significant difference between the long-term VHI scores of the remnant group (10.00 +/- 8.58) and the nonremnant group (5.67 +/- 8.71) (P=0.306). CONCLUSIONS: Immediately after voice therapy, perceptual scores, acoustic parameters, and VHI scores all significantly improved regardless of presence of remnant nodules. Favorable outcomes of voice therapy were maintained during long-term follow-up regardless of presence of remnant nodules after voice therapy.

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