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Objectives/Hypothesis Cryotherapy has been shown to be a scarless treatment modality for dermal lesions; however, there are limited data addressing the effect of cryotherapy on vocal fold tissue. The aim of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of cryotherapy for prevention of postsurgical vocal fold scarring. Study Design Prospective animal study in rabbits. Methods The lamina propria of 20 rabbit vocal folds was bilaterally stripped, followed by randomized unilateral cryotherapy. Five larynges were harvested for real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis at 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days postinjury. The remaining five were harvested for histologic analysis at 3 months. Images of the healing phase were recorded by laryngoscopy. Analyses of RT‐PCR for cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2, interleukin (IL)‐6, collagen I, collagen III, matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1), transforming growth factor β (TGFβ1), α smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), and hyaluronan synthase 1 (HAS1) were completed. Histological samples were completed for collagen and hyaluronic acid analysis. Results RT‐PCR results revealed that higher expressions of HAS1 and MMP1 and lower expressions of COX‐2, IL‐6, collagen I, collagen III, TGFβ1, and α‐SMA were observed, and histological examination showed significantly increased hyaluronic acid, decreased deposition, and more organized configuration of collagen in injury with the cryotherapy cohort compared with the injury cohort. Conclusions Cryotherapy can inhibit the inflammatory reaction and simulate a fetal healing environment in extracellular matrix synthesis to regenerate vocal fold tissue with less fibrosis. Histological results showed that cryotherapy achieves a mature healing result with less scar, which tends to return to normal. In summary, the findings of this study suggest that administration of cryotherapy at the time of injury has the potential to minimize vocal fold scarring. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 129:E151–E157, 2019

Objectives: Straw phonation has been investigated for its vocal warm-up effects on healthy populations and therapeutic effects on voice patients. The purpose of this article was to determine whether it is beneficial for vocal fatigue. Study Design: Prospective cohort study Methods: Twenty-five healthy participants were recruited into 1-hour vocal loading tasks followed by 10-minute vocal rest or straw phonation on 2 different days. Various parameters including phonation threshold pressure (PTP), mean airflow, closed quotient (CQ), current speaking effort level (EFFT), and laryngeal discomfort (DISC) were acquired at baseline, after vocal load, and after the intervention. Results: Increased PTP, EFFT, and DISC were observed after vocal load. Decreased PTP, EFFT, and DISC were then acquired after both vocal rest or straw phonation. More significant improvements were obtained in straw phonation when compared with vocal rest. Additionally, significantly increased mean flow and decreased CQ were obtained after straw phonation when compared to vocal rest. Conclusions: Straw phonation has the potential to adjust aerodynamics within the vocal tract leading to improved vocal efficiency, optimized vibration mode, and attenuated vocal fatigue. This study provided a promising treatment for vocal fatigue that could have wide clinical relevance to voice users with high voice demands.

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Thirty-five patients with arytenoid dislocation were identified. Endotracheal intubation was the cause for 33 of the patients and gastric tube caused arytenoid dislocation in two patients. The patients were treated by closed reduction, and no major complications resulting from surgical intervention were observed. All patients regained normal voice and vocal fold movement after the surgery, except one patient who recovered spontaneously. As one of the most significant findings in the current study, we observed the relatively stable treatment outcomes and shortened recovery duration were obtained in the patients treated during a period between the 13th day and 26th day after arytenoid dislocation.