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Laryngeal nerve crush for spastic dysphonia
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|July 1, 1979
Summary
Recurrent laryngeal nerve crushing effectively treated spastic dysphonia in four patients. While causing temporary vocal cord paralysis, the procedure offered long-term relief from spasticity, with most patients remaining symptom-free for over two years.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Spastic dysphonia is a neurological voice disorder.
- It often proves refractory to conventional speech and psychiatric therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of recurrent laryngeal nerve crushing in patients with spastic dysphonia.
- To assess the long-term outcomes of this surgical intervention.
Main Methods:
- Surgical intervention involving crushing of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was performed on four patients.
- Vocal cord paralysis was intentionally induced as part of the procedure.
Main Results:
- All patients experienced vocal cord paralysis post-surgery.
- Vocal spasticity resolved in all treated individuals.
- Vocal cord function gradually returned within four to six months.
- Three out of four patients maintained spasticity-free vocal function for at least 24 months.
Conclusions:
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve crushing is a viable treatment option for refractory spastic dysphonia.
- The procedure provides significant and durable symptom relief.
- Temporary vocal cord paralysis is an expected outcome, with functional recovery observed.