Optimal Duration for Voice Rest After Vocal Fold Surgery: Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.

Area of Science:

• Laryngology and Phoniatrics
• Surgical Outcomes Research
• Vocal Fold Pathology and Treatment

Background:

• Voice rest is a standard post-phonomicrosurgery recommendation to prevent vocal fold injury exacerbation.
• Optimal voice rest duration remains undetermined, with emerging evidence supporting early vocal stimulation for wound healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal duration of voice rest following phonomicrosurgery.
• To compare the efficacy of 3-day versus 7-day voice rest periods on vocal fold healing and function.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled clinical trial involving patients undergoing phonomicrosurgery for various vocal fold pathologies.
• Participants were randomized to either 3 or 7 days of postoperative voice rest, followed by voice therapy.
• Pre- and post-operative assessments included GRBAS scale, stroboscopy (evaluating normalized mucosal wave amplitude - NMWA), aerodynamic analysis, acoustic analysis, and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10).

Main Results:

• The 3-day voice rest group demonstrated significantly better outcomes in jitter, shimmer, and VHI-10 at 1 month post-operation.
• The 3-day group also showed significantly improved GRBAS scores at 1 and 3 months, and superior NMWA at 1, 3, and 6 months compared to the 7-day group.

Conclusions:

• Three days of voice rest, coupled with subsequent voice therapy, appears more beneficial for vocal fold wound healing than 7 days of rest.
• Early mechanical stimulation through voice use may promote more favorable functional recovery of the vocal folds post-surgery.