Outcomes of structural fat grafting for paralytic and non-paralytic dysphonia

Aims of this prospective study were to evaluate the results of vocal fold structural fat grafting for glottic insufficiency and to compare the outcomes obtained in unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) and congenital or acquired soft tissue defects in vocal folds. Sixty-six consecutive patients with breathy dysphonia, in 43 cases (aged 16-79 years) related to UVFP and in 23 cases (aged 16-67 years) related to vocal fold iatrogenic scar or sulcus vocalis, underwent autologous structural fat grafting into vocal folds. Lipoaspirates were centrifuged at 1200 g for 3 min to separate and remove blood, cell debris and the oily layer. The refined fat was injected under direct microlaryngoscopy in a multilayered way. The main outcome measures were grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenicity and strain (GRBAS) perceptual evaluation, maximum phonation time (MPT), self-assessed Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and voice acoustic analysis, considered pre-operatively and at 3 and 6 months after fat grafting. After surgery, MPT, VHI, G and B improved in both groups (p < 0.05). In particular, G and VHI functional subscales showed a significantly greater decrease in patients with UVFP (p < 0.05). The acoustic variables improved significantly only in the UVFP group (p < 0.005). From 3 to 6 months postoperatively, most variables showed a trend with further improvement. Vocal fold structural fat grafting was significantly effective in treating glottic insufficiency due to UVFP or soft tissue defects. Perceptual, acoustic and subjective assessments confirmed that patients with UVFP had better outcomes than those with soft tissue defects.     

小学教师嗓音质量评估的研究

目的探讨嗓音声学分析与嗓音障碍指数（voicehandicapindex,VHI）用于小学教师嗓音质量评估的临床意义。方法30例嗓音正常教师（G1组）与同一学校年龄、性别、教龄相匹配的30例嗓音障碍教师（G2组）均行间接喉镜检查、嗓音声学分析、V…量表自我评估,两组结果进行比较分析。结果嗓音障碍组（G2）中慢性喉炎占77％（23／30）、声带息肉占1O％（3／30）。声带小结占13％（4／30）。嗓音障碍组（G2）的Jitter．Shimmer、噪谐比（NHR）均高于嗓音正常组（G1）,差异有统计学意义（p〈o．05）。嗓音障碍组（G2）与嗓音正常组（G1）的功能（functional,F）、生理（physical,P）．情感（emotional,E）三方面得分及VHI总分（totalscoresoftheVHl,Tvh）分值两组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。嗓音障碍组（G2）VHI量表中除E外,F、P、Tvh与Jitter、Shimmer、NHR之间有良好的相关性。结论临床上可以用嗓音声学分析中各项指标判断教师嗓音障碍的严重程度,VHI可主观反映教师嗓音疾病的严重程度,二者在嗓音质量评估中具有一定的临床应用价值。     

嗓音疾病自我评估特点及影响因素

目的 探讨嗓音障碍疾病嗓音障碍自我评估特点及影响因素.方法 对1766例嗓音障碍患者及120例健康对照者行嗓音障碍指数(voice handicap index,VHI)量表评估,并对其中227例嗓音治疗后效果进行评估.结果 各种嗓音疾病患者VHI评分均明显高于对照组(z值范围8.039～17.043,P值均为0.000).不同嗓音疾病患者之间评分也有差异,量表总分自高而低依次为痉挛性发音障碍、声带麻痹、功能性发音障碍、声带沟、声带良恶性肿瘤、声带囊肿、声带任克水肿、声带息肉、声带角化与慢性喉炎、声带小结.痉挛性发音障碍组情感部分评分最高,其次为功能性发音障碍,而其他组生理部分评分均高于功能及情感评分.嗓音治疗后患者量表评分显著下降,术前术后VHI量表总评分差异有统计学意义(P值均<0.05).不同教育程度、年龄分组间量表总分差异有统计学意义(F值范围8.701～27.371,P值均为0.000),受教育程度越高,VHI评分越高;少年组VHI的各项最低,青年组最高,之后随年龄增长VHI逐渐下降.结论 VHI量表评估作为嗓音疾病严重程度及治疗效果评估的有益补充,可以从患者角度通过生理、机能及情感三方面综合评估嗓音障碍对日常生活影响及治疗前后变化,但具有一定主观性,可能受到教育程度及年龄因素影响.     

嗓音障碍指数对嗓音外科手术效果评估的价值

目的运用改良中文嗓音障碍指数量表,结合客观检查手段,评估嗓音障碍指数对嗓音疾病患者临床疗效分析的价值。方法 50例嗓音疾病患者手术前后分别进行自我评估、声学分析和喉镜检查。自我评估采用嗓音障碍指数(voice handicap index,VHI)量表中文版,包括功能(F)、生理(P)、情感(E)三方面评分,其总和记为T,其中,P+F=TvH;通过Dr.Speech嗓音分析软件对患者的嗓音样本进行声学分析,观察基频微扰(jitter)、振幅微扰(shimmer)、标准化噪声能量(normalized noise energy,NNE)三个指标。纤维喉镜检查主要观察声带闭合情况,记为C。结果 VHI量表中剔除了情感(E)方面后的嗓音自我评估分数,F、P、TvH之间的相关性良好,F、P、TvH与jit-ter、shimmer、NNE之间有良好的相关性,声带闭合程度(C)与VHI量表中的F、P、TvH以及jitter、shimmer、NNE之间有良好的相关性。结论改良的中文VHI量表,可有效地评估嗓音疾病严重程度及临床疗效,有较高的临床应用价值。     

Factors predicting Voice Handicap Index

ObjectiveTo assess factors that may be predictive of patient perception of dysphonia severity, as quantified by the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) score.Material and methodsA prospective study is carried out in 81 voice samples from patients diagnosed with benign vocal fold lesions. Variables assessed for predictive value to VHI score are maximum fonation time, narrow band spectrogram, jitter, shimmer, HNR, NNE, F0 and the auditory perceptual evaluation of severity of dysphonia GRABS.ResultsHNR, F0 and B and S parameters of GRABS were predictors of total VHI score, functional and emotional subscales. No parameter was found to predict the physical subscale.ConclusionsVHI score is correlated with the perceived breathy voice and its acoustic attributes, such as signal-to-noise ratio. In other studies, patient perception of dysphonia is independent of many factors commonly assessed during the evaluation of voice disorders. It is reasonable to assume that the severity of glottic gap caused by benign vocal folds lesions is related to a low signal-to-noise ratio and the breathy phonation as its perceptual correlate. The physical subscale appears to be an independent element in the assessment of the patient perception of dysphonia.     

Voice in early glottic cancer compared to benign voice pathology

The purpose of this study is to compare (Dutch) Voice Handicap Index (VHIvumc) scores from a selected group of patients with voice problems after treatment for early glottic cancer with patients with benign voice disorders and subjects from the normal population. The study included a group of 35 patients with voice problems after treatment for early glottic cancer and a group of 197 patients with benign voice disorders. Furthermore, VHI scores were collected from 123 subjects randomly chosen from the normal population. VHI reliability was high with high internal consistency and test–retest stability. VHI scores of glottic cancer patients were similar to those of patients with voice problems due to benign lesions. Both groups of patients were clearly deviant from the normal population. Within the normal population, 16% appeared to have not-normal voices. Based on ROC curves a cut-off score of 15 points was defined to identify patients with voice problems in daily life. A clinical relevant difference score of 10 points was defined to be used for individual patients and of 15 points to be used in study designs with groups. Patients with voice problems after treatment for early glottic cancer encounter the same amount of problems in daily life as the other voice-impaired patients. The VHI proved to be an adequate tool for baseline and effectiveness measurement of voice.     

Laser resection of T1a glottic carcinomas: results and postoperative voice quality

OBJECTIVES: To calculate recurrence, mortality and complication rates and evaluate postoperative voice quality after laser resection of T(1a) glottic carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since 1995 we have treated 118 patients with a T(1a) glottic carcinoma with laser surgery. In order to evaluate postoperative voice quality, patients who were alive and free of recurrence were sent the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire containing 30 questions concerning how their voice affects their daily life physically, emotionally and socially. RESULTS: Twelve patients (10%) had a local recurrence and received further treatment, either a second laser treatment, radiotherapy or a total laryngectomy. One patient (0.84%) died due to the laryngeal cancer. Ninety-nine patients were sent the VHI questionnaire and 94 of the completed questionnaires were included in the study and analyzed. The mean total score was 13.2, with mean subscores of 6.5 (physical), 4.1 (functional) and 2.5 (emotional). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that these patients as a group do not consider that their voice has a negative impact on their daily life. Good surgical technique is essential to obtain a good functional result. The laser strength should be kept low and the surgical margins small in order to minimize scarring and vocal cord stiffness.     

Voice-related quality of life in T1 glottic cancer: irradiation versus endoscopic excision

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have explored posttreatment voice outcomes for early glottic cancer with varying results. To further clarify the voice-related quality of life (QOL) of T1 glottic cancer patients treated by external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) compared to endoscopic carbon dioxide laser excision (CLE), we performed a meta-analysis. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis review for the years 1966 to 2005 for the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), laryngeal cancer, voice outcome, voice quality, and quality of life. Studies in which the VHI was assessed at least 3 months after treatment for T1 glottic cancer were identified and analyzed by meta-analysis techniques. RESULTS: Six studies with 208 patients (6 T1b and 202 T1a) treated with CLE and 91 patients (6 T1b and 85 T1a) treated with EBRT were identified. The posttreatment VHI scores were similar for the EBRT- and CLE-treated patients (p = .1, Wilcoxon rank sum test). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that CLE and EBRT provide comparable levels of voice handicap for patients with T1 glottic cancer.     

Vocal function after vertical partial laryngectomy with glottic reconstruction by false vocal fold flap: durational and frequency measures.

OBJECTIVE: Compare vocal function following vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) with or without glottic reconstruction by false vocal fold (FVF) mucosal flap. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-seven patients with Tla squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the glottis were included in a prospective randomized clinical study. All patients were treated by frontolateral partial laryngectomy (FLPL). Glottic reconstruction with FVF mucosal flap was performed in 14 patients at the time of the FLPL, whereas 13 patients had standard FLPL. METHODS: Objective voice assessment was based on computerized acoustic recordings performed before and 1 year after surgery. When possible, additional recordings were performed at 3 months, 6 months, and 2 years postoperatively. Incidence of postoperative granuloma and anterior neoglottic web were noted. Repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the durational (maximum phonation time, speech rate) and frequency measurements (average fundamental frequency [Fo], standard deviation of Fo, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio, degree of voice breaks) between patients with or without glottic reconstruction, postoperative granuloma, and anterior neoglottic web. Linear regression was used to study the evolution over time of the durational and frequency measurements. RESULTS: Frequency measurements improved with time and were significantly better in patients treated with glottic reconstruction. In addition, glottic reconstruction decreased incidence of postoperative granuloma and anterior neoglottic web. CONCLUSIONS: The FVF mucosal flap technique can improve vocal results in selected cases of Tla SCC of the glottis when FLPL is the adequate surgical treatment. false vocal folds; glottic reconstruction; vertical partial laryngectomy; vocal function.     

Quality of life before and after thyroplasty for vocal fold paralysis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the vocal handicap in relation with the quality of life in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), before and after thyroplasty with Montgomery implant (type I). METHODS: Ten patients had to file the VHI questioner before and three months after thyroplasty. The 30 items of the Voice Handicap Index scale are sub-divided in 3 categories referring to "Functional", "Physical" and "Emotional" dimensions. RESULTS: Before thyroplasty, the global score and the 3 sub-scales rating are high reflecting severe impairment in speech communication (VHI total = 65,9/120, F = 25.7/40, E = 19.9/40, P = 20.8/40). Three months after thyroplasty, a significant improvement is found predominantly in the field of functional and emotional evaluation, corresponding to an improved quality of social life (VHI total = 20,9/120, F = 6.3/40, E = 3.6/40, P = 10.6/40). CONCLUSION: These results show the interest in using the autoevaluation VHI scale as a complementary evaluation associated to perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic evaluation to objectify the functional improvement in voice quality after thyroplasty.     

Validity and reliability of the glottal function index

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a symptom-focused vocal impairment instrument for the evaluation of patients with voice disorders. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized study of patients with voice disorders undergoing treatment with validation of a new symptom index, the Glottal Function Index (GFI). SETTING: Voice disorders clinic at an academic tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients undergoing therapy for glottal insufficiency, adductor spasmodic dysphonia, nodules, and granuloma (40 patients in each group) and 40 control patients. INTERVENTIONS: The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate GFI reproducibility and to compare it with the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). The paired-samples t test was used to compare pretherapy and posttherapy GFI values. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of GFI with VHI; comparison of the GFI in normals, and in pretherapy and posttherapy GFI and VHI scores. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD normative GFI score was 0.87 +/- 1.32. The correlation coefficient for GFI between independent pretherapy measurements was 0.56 (P<.001). The correlation coefficient between total GFI and total VHI scores was 0.61 (P<.001). The mean posttherapy GFI scores improved among all groups as follows: glottal insufficiency: presenting GFI score, 12.7 +/- 4.1; posttherapy GFI score, 6.8 +/- 5.4; nodules: presenting GFI score, 12.9 +/- 4.2; posttherapy GFI score, 8.9 +/- 4.6; adductor spasmodic dysphonia: presenting GFI score, 13.2 +/- 4.1; posttherapy GFI score, 8.9 +/- 4.9; and granuloma: presenting GFI score, 7.8 +/- 4.6; posttherapy GFI score, 3.8 +/- 2.1. Relative to controls, the GFI score at presentation was significantly elevated and demonstrated significant reduction following treatment across each of these entities (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The GFI is a reliable, reproducible, 4-item, self-administered symptom index with excellent criterion-based and construct validity. Its advantages over existing indexes include brevity and ease of administration. The GFI is a useful adjunct in the evaluation and treatment of patients with glottal dysfunction.     

教师声带息肉患者的嗓音声学分析与嗓音障碍指数相关性研究

目的 探讨教师声带息肉患者的嗓音声学分析与嗓音障碍指数的相关性.方法 对70例教师声带息肉患者(教师息肉组,男30例,女40例)和70例嗓音正常者(对照组,男28例,女42例)进行嗓音声学分析和嗓音障碍指数(voice handicap index,VHI)评估.嗓音声学分析指标包括基频(F0)、基频微扰(jitter...     

双侧声带麻痹不同术式治疗前后声门测量及嗓音评价

目的探讨3种不同的双侧声带麻痹治疗术后声门面积及嗓音质量。方法 46例双侧声带麻痹患者分别采用激光杓状软骨切除术(A 组24例),膈神经替代喉返神经吻合术(B 组9例),喉外径路杓状软骨切除声带外移固定术(C 组13例)治疗,手术前后行声门测量及嗓音分析。结果 A、B、C 组拔管率分别为91.7%(22/24)、88.9%(8/9)、100.0%(13/13),3种术式术后最大开放声门面积平均(x±s)分别为:(47.2±7.4)mm~2、(78.3±16.0)mm~2、(48.1±6.5)mm~2。B 组术后声门面积明显大于 A、C 组,差异有统计学意义(t 值分别为4.46和3.85,P 值分别为0.000和0.001)。A、C 组术后声门面积差异无统计学意义(t=1.68,P=0.101)。A 组术后17例能保持术前的嗓音质量,7例恶化;B 组术后5例嗓音好转,1例恢复正常,3例无变化;C 组术后3例嗓音无变化,10例恶化。B 组9例术后膈神经修复侧膈肌均麻痹不动,肺活量及最大呼吸容量为术前的72%～84%及76%～84%;半年后膈肌动度恢复达35%～76%,肺活量及最大呼吸容量为术前的93%～97%及91%～98%。结论膈神经替代吻合术后拔管患者声门面积最大,嗓音最好。激光杓状软骨切除和喉外径路杓状软骨切除声带外移固定术均能建市足够气道,拔除气管套管,但前者嗓音明显优于后者。     

功能性发声障碍的临床特征及预后分析

目的：探讨功能性发声障碍的诱因、临床特征及预后。方法回顾性分析104例功能性发声障碍患者的临床资料和频闪喉镜检查结果,并对所有患者进行共鸣发声疗法和重音治疗法发声训练,治疗前后行VHI评估和GRBAS评分,分析疗效。结果104例中,无明显诱因34例（32．69％）,诱发因素分别为上呼吸道感染29例（27．88％）,情绪紧张22例（21．15％）,用声过度10例（9．62％）,其他因素9例（8．65％）。频闪喉镜检查见粘膜波正常43例（41．35％）,黏膜波改变53例（50．96％,其中41例未引出黏膜波,12例黏膜波减弱）,室带完全超越声带3例,不配合发声未引出黏膜波5例;发声时声门闭合不全65例（62．50％）,声门上代偿性内收30例（28．85％）,喉部挤压9例（8．65％）。随访67例,恢复正常53例（79．10％）,其G评分、V H I评分均降为0分;6例发声明显好转但未完全恢复正常,G评分和VHI评分较治疗前降低;8例治疗后G评分和VHI评分无明显变化。结论功能性发声障碍诱因复杂,并非单一精神心理因素所致;喉镜检查多可见声带振动异常、声门闭合不良及声门上代偿;治疗可采取心理疏导、发声矫正和中医针灸相结合,多数患者预后较好。     

Bilateral vocal fold injection with autologous fat in patients with vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - To evaluate voice outcome after bilateral vocal fold injection with autologous fat in patients with non-paralytic glottic insufficiency due to vocal...     

Bilateral medialization thyroplasty in patients with vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - To evaluate voice outcome after bilateral medialization thyroplasty in patients with non-paralytic glottic insufficiency due to vocal fold atrophy with...     

Role of injectable collagen in the treatment of glottic insufficiency: a study of 119 patients.

Injectable bovine collagen has been used for treatment of glottic insufficiency at the University of Wisconsin Clinical Science Center since 1983. This report reviews our experience in treating 119 patients with a variety of vocal fold disorders manifested by glottic insufficiency. Many of the patients were referred because of prior treatment failures or problems that were impossible to treat with other modalities. Results were assessed by comprehensive voice evaluations using subjective patient self-assessments, perceptual judgments made by a panel of experts who had no prior knowledge of the study, objective assessments, and videostroboscopy. Objective assessment included vocal function measures and acoustic analysis. Results indicate that collagen not only is comparable to other injection filler substances but also has unique advantages as a bioimplant. Collagen injection seems uniquely suited for treatment of several problems, including vocal fold atrophy, focal defects, minimal glottic insufficiency, and scarred vocal folds that are not managed optimally with Teflon injection. Overall there were no serious complications and treatment was effective for a broad spectrum of problems. In most instances the correction persisted, and in those instances in which injected collagen seemed improperly distributed, the vocal fold was recontoured or the implant removed without appreciable damage to the surrounding tissues. Injectable collagen has been extensively studied and deserves to be included in the armamentarium of the laryngeal surgeon.     

经口CO2激光治疗早期声门型喉癌术后嗓音分析

目的探讨经口CO2激光手术治疗早期声门型喉癌术后的嗓音情况。方法回顾分析2016年3月—2019年6月接受经口CO2激光手术治疗的48例声门型喉癌患者嗓音资料,根据手术是否切除前连合分为未切除前连组合（n=29）和切除前连合组（n=19）。分别于手术前和手术后6个月的嗓音稳定期对患者进行主观嗓音障碍指数量表简化中文版（VHI 13）评分、频闪喉镜检查及嗓音声学分析。结果经口CO2激光手术后6个月检查VHI 13生理评分及总分均较手术前明显减低;频闪喉镜检查未切除前连合组以声带黏膜波减弱或消失为主要表现,而切除前连合组术后出现前连合粘连和室带代偿性发音的比例明显升高;嗓音声学分析发现,与术前比较,激光手术后基频（F0）增加,基频微扰(jitter)和振幅微扰(shimmer)增大,最长发声时间(MPT)缩短,嗓音障碍严重指数（DSI）减低;未切除前连合组患者振幅微扰较切除前连合组更低,最长发生时间更长,DSI更高。结论声门型喉癌经口CO2激光手术后患者的主观嗓音质量较术前有一定程度的改善,是否切除前连合与术后声带形态、嗓音质量有密切关系。     

针灸联合嗓音矫治治疗原发性肌紧张性发声障碍

目的探讨针灸联合嗓音矫治对原发性肌紧张性发音障碍患者的治疗效果。方法将40例原发性肌紧张性发音障碍患者随机分为嗓音矫治组及针灸联合嗓音矫治组(针灸联合治疗组),每组20例。嗓音矫治组采用放松训练、轻松发音、口腔共鸣及情景对话四阶段循环嗓音矫治方法治疗,针灸联合嗓音矫治组在嗓音矫治的基础上加用6处穴位的针灸治疗三周,比较两组治疗前后的基频微扰(jitter)、振幅微扰(shimmer)、最长发声时间(MPT)、嗓音障碍严重指数(dysphonia severity index,DSI)、频闪喉镜检查、嗓音障碍指数(VHI)评估、嗓音主观评分(GRBAS)、康复时间及3月后复发率。结果①治疗前上述指标两组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05);治疗后,两组患者jitter、shimmer、VHI及G评分均较治疗前显著减小(P<0.05),MPT及DSI较治疗前显著升高(P<0.05);但两组之间治疗后jitter、shimmer、MPT、DSI及G评分均无显著性差异(均P>0.05),针灸联合治疗组VHI评分低于嗓音矫治组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。②两组患者至治疗结束时频闪喉镜检查均表现为声门上区挤压消失,室带收缩显著缓解,声带均可正常暴露并观察到正常粘膜波,声门后裂隙不同程度减小甚至消失。③针灸联合治疗组康复时间(中位数32.15天)显著短于嗓音矫治组(中位数41.07天)(P<0.01);针灸联合治疗组3月后复发5例(25.0%,5/20),嗓音矫治组3月后复发6例(30.0%,6/20),治疗后两组复发率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论针灸及嗓音矫治治疗原发性肌紧张性发声障碍均有良好的治疗效果,两者联合能够缩短疗程,更有利于改善患者的主观症状。     

声带息肉患者的嗓音障碍客观指数测定

目的研究嗓音障碍客观指数(dysphonia severity index,DSI)测试在声带息肉患者嗓音分析中的临床应用.方法对31例声带息肉患者和12例正常受试者分别进行主观自我评估和客观嗓音声学检测.主观自我评估采用嗓音障碍指数(voice handicap index,VHI)量表进行评估,客观声学检测采用德国XION公司生产的嗓音分析软件DiVAS进行测试.结果声带息肉患者组DSI均低于正常对照组,差别有统计学意义(P<0.05);VHI高于正常对照组,结果具有统计学差异(P<0.05).声带息肉患者的DSI与VHI之间没有显著相关性.结论嗓音障碍客观指数(DSI)能够客观评估声带息肉患者的嗓音障碍程度.