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Basic Knowledge of Vocal Fold Paralysis

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Book cover Pathophysiology and Surgical Treatment of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis

Abstract

Vocal fold paralysis is a pathological finding of motion impairment of varying degrees caused by nervous system disorders. In this chapter, the detailed anatomy of the laryngeal nerves and their varying anastomotic patterns within the larynx are described. Regeneration of nerve fibers after damage varies among patients. Significant misdirected regeneration occurs in some, whereas others show little synkinesis, which is a major cause of considerable inconsistencies of the vibratory pattern of the vocal folds among patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Second, the effects of changes in the physical properties of the affected vocal fold on the production of the mucosal wave are summarized. Third, the factors that must be considered before surgical treatment of paralytic dysphonia are highlighted. Finally, reacquisition of the thyroarytenoid muscle tonus by reinnervation is important in recovering the preinjury voice with a dynamic mucosal wave.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    “Paralysis” means loss or impairment of motor function due in part to a lesion of the neural or muscular mechanism (cited from Dorland’s illustrated Medical Dictionary).

  2. 2.

    The activities of the cricothyroid muscle are assumed to be responsible for the preponderance of the median position among paralyzed vocal fold positions [22].

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  1. Department of Otlaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

    Eiji Yumoto

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Yumoto, E. (2015). Basic Knowledge of Vocal Fold Paralysis. In: Pathophysiology and Surgical Treatment of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55354-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55354-0_1

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