Background Factors and Subjective Voice Symptoms in Patients with Acquired Vocal Fold Scarring and Sulcus Vocalis.

OBJECTIVE: Vocal fold scarring (VFS) and sulcus vocalis (SV) often result in severe and chronic voice disorders. This study compares subjective voice complaints as rated with the Voice Handicap Index and etiological factors for patients with VFS and SV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected from the medical records at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Karolinska University Hospital, for 27 VFS patients and 27 SV patients. Descriptive background factors were compared between the groups and data were compared from the Swedish Voice Handicap Index (Sw-VHI) questionnaires.

RESULTS: Previous laryngeal surgery/trauma was significantly more common for the patients with VFS. The SV group had significantly more persistent dysphonia since childhood. It was significantly more common to have a non-Germanic language origin among the SV patients. VFS and SV rated high for the total median Sw-VHI scores. The VFS group's total Sw-VHI and the three domain scores were significantly higher compared to the SV group. The physical domain showed a significantly higher score when compared to the functional and emotional domains in the SV cohort and when compared to the emotional domain in the VFS cohort.

CONCLUSION: There are significant differences between the VFS group and SV group regarding etiological factors as well as the Sw-VHI. The degree and profile of VHI should be considered when selecting patients and evaluating the result of new treatments for this group of patients.