Vocal Cord Nodules

Vocal Cord Nodules

The vocal cords (vocal cords – plica vocalis), also known as vocal folds, is a structure consisting of two ligament-shaped taut mucous membranes extending horizontally from front to back within the cartilaginous structure, which is located in the larynx cavity, vibrating in different patterns and providing the formation of sound.

The surfaces of the vocal cords are flat and when they close, their free surfaces meet and complete closure occurs.

The size of the vocal cords determines the pitch, i.e. the loudness of the voice, and they are shorter and thinner in women and children. Therefore, the voices of women and children are higher pitched and thinner.

Voice is the most important communication tool that must be carefully protected against distortion and injury. Because the quality of the sound is related to the healthy and synchronised movement of the vocal cords. During the collision of the vocal cords with each other, excessive and bad (forced) use of the voice, which causes excessive friction, leads to benign (benign) tissue deterioration (lesion), irritation and inflammation on the vocal cords that do not cause cancer over time. The vocal cords vibrate 100-150 times per second in men, 200-250 times per second in women and 400 times per second in babies. For this reason, the vocal cords are the tissue of the body that is exposed to the most wear and tear.

How is vocal cord nodule surgery performed?

After the diagnosis of a vocal cord nodule is made, surgical intervention is decided if the vocal rest, medication and voice therapy methods applied to the patient do not yield results. Generally, endoscopic techniques such as Laser Surgery or Phonomicrosurgery, Microlaryngoscopy, which do not involve any excision (cutting out) procedure, are used:

Phonomic microsurgery / microlaryngoscopy : In cases where the vocal cord formation is large or in a hard-to-reach area, it is a surgical intervention to cut the nodule and remove it. It is performed under general anaesthesia. With the help of a laryngoscope and other endoscopic instruments that provide magnified high quality images, the vocal cords are accessed through the mouth and the nodule is cut and removed without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. The operation takes an average of 30-60 minutes. The patient is discharged on the same day since no stitches are needed. Eating and drinking activities are not restricted, but speaking in a whisper or normal voice is not allowed for a week, voice rest is applied. There may be complaints of mild sore throat and difficulty in swallowing for a maximum of one day. In case of numbness in the tongue and loss of taste due to compression of the tongue during the operation, these complaints end spontaneously within a few weeks.

Are there any risks of vocal cord nodule surgery?

Vocal cord nodule surgery is not an intervention that carries serious risks. If the recommendations and instructions specified by the doctor are not followed after the operation, voice loss, bleeding, permanent voice disorder due to vocal cord trauma, vocal cord paralysis may occur rarely.

If you are experiencing problems such as hoarseness, voice change, restlessness and pain in the throat for more than ten days, you can contact us by using our contact information; you can be treated in our centre, which is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of vocal cord disorders, uses tools and apparatus equipped with the latest technologies, prioritises your special demands and needs, and get more detailed information about your disease.