What surgical procedure is performed on the vocal cords after vocal strain from singing?

From the Guidelines

Surgery for vocal cord strain from singing is typically considered only after conservative treatments, including voice therapy, have failed. When considering surgery, it's essential to undergo a thorough evaluation, including laryngoscopy, as recommended by the clinical practice guideline for hoarseness (dysphonia) update 1. The most common surgeries for vocal cord strain are vocal cord microsurgery or phonosurgery to repair damage, such as removing vocal nodules, polyps, or cysts using microlaryngoscopy. However, voice therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for dysphonia, including vocal fold lesions, and is considered the first line of treatment 1. Some key points to consider before surgery include:

• Undergoing a thorough evaluation, including videostroboscopy to visualize the vocal cords
• Completing a course of voice therapy, which may include speech therapy for 6-8 weeks
• Practicing proper vocal hygiene, including complete voice rest for 1-2 weeks, proper hydration, and anti-inflammatory medications
• Recovery from vocal surgery requires strict voice rest for 1-2 weeks followed by gradual voice use under the guidance of a speech-language pathologist. It's crucial to note that the need for surgery depends on the specific injury, and vocal strain often responds well to non-surgical approaches that address technique issues and vocal hygiene.

From the Research

Vocal Cord Surgery

To address vocal cord issues after restraining from singing, the following surgical options are available:

• Phonomicrosurgical techniques to minimize additional trauma to the vocal folds 2
• Use of the pKTP laser for treating benign laryngeal lesions 2
• Intralesional injections, which can be performed in the operating room or in an awake outpatient setting 2

Diagnostic Methods

Before undergoing surgery, diagnostic methods such as laryngoscopy may be used to inspect the vocal cords and identify any lesions or abnormalities 3

Treatment Approaches

Treatment approaches for vocal cord lesions may involve a combination of:

• Voice therapy to address phonotraumatic forces on the vocal folds 2
• Surgical techniques to remove or repair damaged tissue 2
• Use of computer-aided diagnosis systems, such as those based on deep convolutional neural networks, to support diagnosis and treatment decisions 3