Treatment of Reincke's edema among different professional groups: presentation of results

Reincke's edema is one of the most common voice disorders in adults. The main purpose of our study, was to analyze factors that may influence the development of this disease. We also estimated the results of surgical treatment. The research was performed on a group of 261 patients with Reincke's edema treated in the ENT Department of the Medical University of Wrocław in the years 1994--2000. In the study population, women were in a majority and teachers formed the largest occupational group (30%) followed by salespersons (15%). Most of the patients (86%) were tobacco smokers. All of the patients underwent detailed videostroboscopic examination of the larynx and perceptual analysis of the voice quality before and after treatment. The symmetry of vocal cords before and after treatment was found in 75 patients. Lack of symmetry before treatment, and proper symmetry after surgery was observed in 71 subjects. Fifty patients showed less symmetry after treatment, and 65 patients were asymmetric before and after surgery. The difference between the symmetry of vocal folds before and after treatment was at the border of statistical significance (p = 0.069). The number of patients with full vocal cords closure increased after treatment. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.032). The periodicity of vocal cord movements was significantly higher after treatment (p < 0.001). The perceptual assessment of voice, before and after treatment, revealed statistically significant post-treatment improvement in voice quality.