Unilateral vocal fold paralysis: can laryngoscopy predict recovery? A prospective study

Abstract

Interarytenoid paralysis and posterolateral tilt of the arytenoid were predictors of poor recovery.

Factors Predicting the Recovery of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis After Thyroidectomy

“…However, videostroboscopy revealed many factors associated with recovery: the paralysis grade, arytenoid tilting, and compensatory movement of the normal side. Menon et al [11] prospectively explored whether laryngoscopy could predict recovery from unilateral vocal cord paralysis; patients exhibiting interarytenoid paralysis and posterolateral tilting of the arytenoid had poor outcomes. Reiter et al [12] concluded that a positive mucosal wave evident on stroboscopy predicted recovery from unilateral vocal fold paralysis.…”

Compound Motor Action Potential Quantifies Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Innervation in a Canine Model

“…Laryngoscopic evaluation accounts for the overall sum of laryngeal muscles. 5,6 Qualitative laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) can be utilized in the months following the onset of UVFP to predict the likelihood of recovery. 7-9…”

Paclitaxel inhibits post‐traumatic recurrent laryngeal nerve regeneration into the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle in a canine model

“…4 Initial injury to the RLN (e.g., crush, stretch, or transection) triggers a cascade of events that include axonal injury and Wallerian degeneration, upregulation of local inflammatory factors, and subsequent axonal sprouting and neural regeneration. [5][6][7][8] However, due to the inherent intermixing of adductor and abductor nerve fibers within the RLN, neural regeneration into a muscle occurs randomly and can lead to the undesirable result of synkinesis. UVFP is traditionally managed with an initial period of observation to allow for recovery of the RLN axons; however, this is also the period in which synkinetic reinnervation occurs.…”