Vestibular fold configurantion during phonation in adults with and without dysfonia

Abstract

The real participation of the vestibular fold during phonation mechanism is unknown. How the vestibular fold changes its configuration in phonation is unclear. To know this changes in the functional mechanism of vestibular fold will be helpful in the evaluation of the pathological conditions. Aim: The objective of this research was to study the configuration of the laryngeal vestibular fold during phonation (sustained emission of the / μ/ sound) by comparing exams of individuals without vocal complaints (the euphonic group) with those with vocal complaints. Study Design: Transversal cohort simple study. Material and Method: 120 images of larynxes were analyzed, 60 of euphonic individuals and 60 dysphonic; constituting an equal number of individuals in relation to gender. The position of the free edge of the vestibular fold was identified, in relation to a straight line that unites its anterior and posterior insertions. Regarding this position, three types of configurations were described: concave, when it was in a lateral position, convex when it was in a medial position and linear when it overlaps. Results: Of the 240 vestibular folds, 158 were concave, 41 convex and 31 linear. The concave form was predominant in the two groups in relation to the other two, although the convex and linear forms increased in the dysphonic group. Analyzing the behavior of these forms in each gender we verified that in the female gender the linear form had a significant increase in the dysphonic group while in the masculine there was a significant increase in the convex form. Conclusion: We concluded that there existed a difference in the behavior of vestibular fold complaint in the dysphonic group in relation to euphony, and that this difference occurred in a diverse form in relation to gender.