The role of thyroplasty in the management of sulcus vocalis.
OBJECTIVE
The results of objective and subjective evaluation of postoperative vocal function were assessed in patients treated with thyroplasty for the correction of sulcus vocalis.


METHODS
Six patients (5 males, 1 female; mean age 26 years; range 18 to 34 years) underwent thyroplasty for sulcus vocalis. Voice evaluations were performed one week before and two months after surgery. None of the patients had voice therapy before evaluations in the postoperative period. The mean follow-up period was 14.8 months.


RESULTS
Compared to the preoperative values, postoperative voice handicap index scores were significantly different (p=0.002). However, the difference between the dysphonia severity index (DSI) scores were not significant (p=0.810).


CONCLUSIONS
A subjective rather than an objective improvement was observed in voice. Our results suggest that, in the evaluation of voice patients, therapeutic success should not be based only on objective criteria, but subjective criteria should also be considered.
Kandoğan
Tolga
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. tkandogan@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014833:Voice Quality