Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acupoint massage at Yuji (LU10) and Zhaohai (KI6) in alleviating hoarseness following thyroid surgery. METHODS: A total of 106 patients who underwent thyroid surgery at our hospital between March 2023 and June 2023 were enrolled in this study. Patients diagnosed with postoperative hoarseness were randomly allocated into either the control group or the observation group using a computer-generated randomization table, with 53 patients in each group. The control group received standard postoperative treatment with neurotrophic drugs, while the observation group received additional acupoint massage therapy targeting Yuji and Zhaohai points. Subjective and objective voice parameters, cure rates of accompanying symptoms, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, both subjective and objective voice indicators improved significantly in the observation group compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) scores were lower in the observation group, with mean differences of Total score: 13.48 (95% CI: [10.89, 16.07], Cohen's d = 2.01); Function: 4.06 (95% CI: [2.39, 5.73], Cohen's d = 0.94); Physiology: 4.07 (95% CI: [2.56, 5.58], d = 1.04); Emotion: 3.48 (95% CI: [1.88, 5.08], Cohen's d = 0.84). Objective voice indicators also showed significant differences, with the observation group having lower Jitter (0.17, 95% CI: [0.13, 0.21], Cohen's d = 1.48) and Shimmer (1.05, 95% CI: [0.86, 1.24], Cohen's d = 2.13), and higher MPT (-5.21, 95% CI: [-7.26, -3.16], Cohen's d = -0.98). Additionally, the observation group had a significantly higher cure rate (96.2% vs. 16.98%), with RR = 5.67 (95% CI: [3.12, 10.30]), and higher satisfaction rate (98.1% vs. 84.9%), with RR = 1.16 (95% CI: [1.03, 1.30]). CONCLUSION: Early postoperative acupoint massage stimulation of thenar and Zhaohai points is conducive to the recovery of patients with hoarseness after thyroid surgery, improve the quality of patients' voice, and effectively promote the rehabilitation of voice.