Immediate effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve stimulation in patients with idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of effective treatment for idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis (IUVFP). A better phonation was reported by patients after laryngeal nerve stimulation during our clinical examination. Objectives: This study aims to investigate immediate effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) stimulation on phonation in patients with IUVFP. Material and Methods: Sixty-two patients with clinically identified IUVFP underwent RLN stimulation with needle electrodes. Laryngoscopy, acoustic analysis, and voice perception assessment were performed for quantitative comparison of vocal function and voice quality before and after the intervention. Results: Laryngoscopic images showed a larger motion range of the paralyzed vocal fold (p