Long-term results of recurrent laryngeal nerve resection for adductor spasmodic dysphonia

From a total of 43 adductor spasmodic patients over a 10-year period, 11 underwent resection of a portion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve on one side. The initial results were excellent but a varying degree of recurrence took place in 8 patients. In 4, a reoperation was done. At the final follow-up, 2-8 years after the primary operation, 4 patients were no longer suffering from spasmodic dysphonia, another 5 were better off than before surgery, and 1 remained unchanged. Only 1 was worse off. Electromyographic findings indicated that the recurrence of symptoms was due to regeneration of the nerve fibers.