Results of postoperative voice therapy for vocal cord polyps: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The recovery of voice quality after vocal cord polyp surgery is a key concern for both patients and physicians. Voice therapy plays a significant role in the conservative treatment of vocal cord polyps. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of postoperative voice therapy on outcomes in patients with vocal cord polyps.

METHODS

According to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic search for RCTs of postoperative voice therapy for vocal cord polyps published before January 24, 2025, in nine databases.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs involving 730 patients were included. Postoperative voice therapy significantly reduced VHI (MD = -9.66, 95%CI [-15.80, -3.53], P = 0.002). Additionally, it improved jitter (SMD = -1.16, 95% CI [-1.70, -0.63], P < 0.0001), shimmer (SMD = -1.18, 95% CI [-1.74, -0.63], P < 0.001), and DSI (SMD = 1.53, 95% CI [0.56, 2.49], P = 0.002), and prolonged MPT (SMD = 0.65, 95% CI [0.27, 1.03], P = 0.0008). However, considerable heterogeneity was observed across outcomes including VHI, jitter, shimmer, and DSI, and the overall sample size remains modest.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative voice therapy demonstrates efficacy in mitigating VHI, jitter, shimmer, and DSI scores, as well as extending MPT in patients with vocal cord polyps. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution due to the significant heterogeneity among the included studies, potential biases, and limited sample sizes. Future high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes, standardized therapy protocols, and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these.