Publication:

Effect of septoplasty on quality of voice

Background Septoplasty is one the most commonly performed surgery in ENT. The aim of this study was to evaluate change in voice after septoplasty using voice handicap index (VHI).

Methods The current study was conducted at Department of ENT, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Jammu, from October 2017 to November 2018. The study population was the patients who had come to the department with deviated nasal septum admitted for septoplasty. Voice assessment was done by Subjective Voice evaluation using VHI. It was done at three times i.e. preoperatively, postoperatively at 1 week and then postoperatively at 1 month.

Results Out of 50 cases operated, 84% patients of present study were in the age group of 18-30 years. The mean age was 25 years. The eldest patient in our study was 55 years old. 40 patients were males and 10 were females with male: female ratio of 4:1. Mean VHI score at preoperative, postoperative 1 week and postoperative 1 month were 23.2, 22 and 21.5 respectively. No statistical difference was obtained while comparing the mean VHI score at different time intervals. The scores between 0-30 are in the mild category i.e. minimal amount of handicap.

Conclusions According to our experience a widened nasal cavity has no effect on voice quality and procedures about nasal obstruction like septoplasty can be performed safely. However, professional voice users, in particular, should be informed about the possible minor postoperative changes, before the septoplasty procedure.