title: Voice examination in patients with decreased high pitch after thyroidectomy.
abstract: Decreased high pitch after thyroidectomy due to injury of the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) may be a critical, especially to professional voice users. The author studied the usefulness of VRP (voice range profile) and MDVP (multi-dimensional voice program) to evaluate patients who have decreased high pitch after thyroidectomy. A study was performed with 58 females and 9 males who underwent voice assessment between January 2008 and June 2009. The patients were classified as the group of female with no decreased high pitch (group A, n = 52), decreased high pitch (group B, n = 6) and the group of male with no decreased high pitch (group C, n = 9). VRP and laryngeal electromyogram (EMG) was performed in group B.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preoperative frequency range of group A and B were statistically not different. In Group B, the result of VRP showed that the frequency range was 443.11 ± 83.97, 246.67 ± 49.41, 181.37 ± 80.13 Hz showing significant decrease after the surgery compared to that of the preoperative result. (P < 0.05) In addition, the intensity range was 22.25 ± 2.87, 15.25 ± 2.22, 16.25 ± 2.63 dB respectively showing significant postoperative decrease. (P < 0.05) EMG of the cricothyroid muscle of group B showed decreased potential with 3 patients, normal potential in 2, and the other patient refused to take the examination. In group A and C, the result of VRP revealed no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative result. VRP is a noninvasive, quick, and practical test to demonstrate decreased frequency range visually and helps to evaluate EBSLN injury in patient with thyroidectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyo Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyoung Shin
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Soon Bok
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kang Dae
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Superior laryngeal nerve; Thyroidectomy; Voice disorders