Impact of Duration Of Absolute Voice Rest on Voice Outcome After Phonomicrosurgery
Absolute voice rest is commonly prescribed after vocal fold surgery, also known as phonomicrosurgery, for benign vocal fold lesions. This is thought to decrease scarring of vocal folds, which could result in increasing tissue stiffness and limitations in optimal vocal outcome. Unfortunately there is no standardized protocol as to how long patients should rest their voice after phonomicrosurgery. To date, there are no studies in the literature directly comparing the impact of short-term and long-term voice rest on vocal fold healing and voice outcome after phonomicrosurgery.
• Patients with benign mid membranous vocal fold lesions such as the following:
‣ Polyps
⁃ Cysts
⁃ Sub-epithelial fibrous mass
• Undergoing elective phonomicrosurgery for vocal fold lesions, which involves microflap excision +/- truncation +/- steroid injection into the vocal folds.
• Age 18 and older