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Phonatory characteristics following surgical treatment of severe polypoid degeneration
Author(s) -
Bennett Suzanne,
Bishop Sandra G.,
M. Lumpkin Samuel M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198905000-00011
Subject(s) - enucleation , stripping (fiber) , medicine , surgery , degeneration (medical) , audiology , ophthalmology , electrical engineering , engineering
This paper summarizes the results of our research into the efficacy of phonosurgery. Our study group consisted of 25 women whose severe, bilateral polypoid degeneration was managed surgically by one of the following methods: Hirano's technique, mechanical stripping, or CO2 laser enucleation. We found that all three procedures improved the voice. Surgery increased the average speaking fundamental frequency level substantially and improved the phonationnl range. Listeners' judgments about the appropriateness of vocal pitch and severity of hoarseness also changed positively following surgery. No one method was clearly better than another in improving the voice. However, patients treated using Hirano's method experienced the most rapid return of functional voice use, probably because the procedure is less traumatic and promotes more rapid healing than mechanical stripping or laser removal.