Effective Treatments for Abductor Vocal Cord Paralysis: A Comprehensive Review

Abductor vocal cord paralysis (AVCP) is a disabling disorder that affects the voice and the quality of life of a patient, and hence, there is importance in providing a detailed knowledge of its aetiology and management. In this review article, we offer an implicational definition of AVCP and a discussion of its background, viewed as potentially affecting voice production and health. Finally, we explore modalities of diagnosis by medical history and physical examination, visualization techniques like laryngoscopy and stroboscopy, and radiographic imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The article reviews and categorizes approaches into operative and non-operative treatments, including injection laryngoplasty, voice therapy, botulinum toxin injections, and the management of Reinke's edema. Surgical approaches, like arytenoid adduction, cordotomy, and posterior cordotomy, are also scrutinized taking their indication, efficacy, and complication profile into consideration. Learning about the advantages and drawbacks of the following experimental yet promising directions like nerve-muscle pedicle implantation, nerve reinnervation, and engineering of tissues is therefore highly necessitated. In conclusion, the review details the measures that have shown to be useful in the treatment process and their impact on the future practice of clinical work, calling for a more clarified structure of the organization of diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative activities. Future research directions are outlined based on the gaps which include the development of new treatment approaches, the evaluation of treatment for long-term effects, and the need for interdisciplinary cooperation in the medical field for the benefit of the patients.