Acquired unilateral vocal fold paralysis: Retrospective analysis of a single institutional experience

Abstract

Background:Vocal cord paralysis continues to be an important issue in laryngology and is considered as a sign of underlying disease; the etiologies of this problem are varied and changing.Aims:The study was to carry out a retrospective analysis of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis diagnosed.Materials and Methods:The medical records of 53 patients diagnosed and treated for unilateral vocal fold paralysis were studied retrospectively. Data regarding age, sex, duration of symptoms, etiology, and side of paralysis were recorded.Results:Out of the 53 cases, 36 were females and 17 males with a ratio of 2.1:1. The age of the patients ranged from 17-75 years. In 18.9% the cause was idiopathic. Surgical trauma (iatrogenic) problems was the most encountered etiology (66%), others included malignancy (non laryngeal) (7.5%), central (3.8%), external neck trauma (1.9%) and radiation therapy 1.9%. Thyroid surgery was the most commonly reported neck surgery in 50.9%.Conclusions:Thyroidectomy continues to be the single most common surgical procedure responsible for unilateral vocal cord paralysis. For this reason, routine pre and postoperative laryngoscopy should be considered in all patients undergoing surgeries with a potential risk for recurrent nerve paralysis to reduce the postoperative morbidity.

Etiological profile of unilateral vocal cord paralysis: A single institutional experience over 10 years

“…[7,8] Surgical trauma (21.6%) was found to be the second most common etiology in our study. The others were nonsurgical trauma (3.7%), nonlaryngeal malignancy (12.9%), central/neurological (6.1%), postradiation (0.3%), and other benign lesions (6.1%).…”

Voice Outcome Measures for Adult Patients With Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: A Systematic Review

“…Treatment modalities were categorized as either voice therapy, laryngoplasty (for the purposes of this review, no distinction was made between injectable substances or type of framework surgery), and reinnervation. Of the 23 studies reporting etiology, n = 19 studies (66%) reported on patients with iatrogenic UVFP, which is reported in the literature as the most common etiology . Furthermore, of the 29 total studies, n = 18 (62%) reported on laryngoplasty (only) outcomes for the management for UVFP dysphonia.…”

A prospective study to evaluate the etiologies and parameters of voice assessment in patients of vocal cord paralysis

“…9,10 However there are various other studies proving either malignancy or iatrogenic as the major cause of uVCP. 1,11 Left cord was involved in 80% of the patients in our study. Although it was quantitatively higher in our study, it was consistent with other studies with respect to the side of involvement.…”