title: Septorhinoplasty with spreader grafts enhances perceived voice quality without affecting acoustic characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the effect of septorhinoplasty with spreader grafts on patients' perception of voice and to measure formant frequencies that may be responsible for perceived changes in voice quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 patients who underwent septorhinoplasty and had spreader grafts placed during the operations were included. All subjects were tested within the week before surgery and 1-3 months postoperatively by means of perceptual assessment (Voice Handicap Index-10 [VHI-10] and self-assessment of hypo/hypernasality), acoustic analysis, and formant frequency analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of VHI-10 score was decreased from 9.44±6.1 to 5.1±3.94 postoperatively (P=0.03). Fifteen patients (75%) perceived their voices to be hyponasal before surgery, but only three perceived the hyponasality to persist after surgery (P<0.001). No patient perceived the voice to be hypernasal either before or after surgery. Fifteen patients (75%) perceived their overall voice quality to be improved, whereas five patients perceived no change. None of the patients perceived their voice to be worse after surgery. There were no significant differences between pre- and postoperative acoustic analysis and formant frequency analysis (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Septorhinoplasty with spreader grafts significantly improved patients' perception of voice; however, acoustic analysis and formant frequency analysis of nasalized vowels did not reveal any significant differences after the operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Maltepe University Medicine Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oner
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Zerrin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Boyaci
authors.forename: Kursat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yelken
authors.forename: Altay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atespare
authors.forename: Saban
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celebi
authors.forename: Oncel
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Koca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059747:Nasal Surgical Procedures; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D014833:Voice Quality