Effectiveness of vietnamese voice therapy among patients with unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after total thyroidectomy

Pham Thi Bich Dao, Le Minh Dat, Tâm Trần Văn, Pham Anh Dung, Phạm Thị Bích Thuỷ, Mai Thi Mai Phuong, Bui Thi Mai

Main Article Content

Abstract

The rate of total thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer has been gradually increasing. Total thyroidectomy is usually accompanied by postoperative voice changes, especially when the recurrent laryngeal nerve (LRN) is damaged. Our study was confined to 60 patients with damaged LRN after total thyroidectomy at Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Vietnam National Otolaryngology Hospital, and Vietnam National Cancer Hospital from 1/2015 to 1/2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 of 30 patients received voice therapy and Group 2 of 30 patients were observed with no intervention. The voice quality of all the patients was evaluated after 03 months, 06 months, and 12 months by PRAAT. Results: Intervened group (Group 1): movements of arytenoid cartilages and affected vocal cord were improved, no vocalis muscle atrophy was observed, and glottis closure was improved. After voice therapy, jitter index, shimmer index, noise-to-harmonic ratio (HNR), vowels (low, mid, high), consonants, tone, voice’s fundamental frequency (F0, F1, F2), and the ability to prolong pronunciation of the intervened group were improved compared to the control group (p < 0.005). Conclusion: It is recommended to provide voice therapy for patients with LRN palsy after total thyroidectomy.

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References

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