Unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis: the importance of "preoperative" voice therapy.
This preliminary retrospective study of 19 female patients and 22 male patients with unilateral recurrent nerve lesions demonstrated the promise of objective measurements in predicting the need for surgery, the efficacy of voice therapy in ameliorating vocal symptoms, and the effects of therapy in conjunction with surgery. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the female patients and 64% of the male patients did not elect to have surgery. Outcome satisfaction of nonsurgical and surgical patients appeared to be similar. The data from this study support the importance of preoperative therapy for patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis.
Heuer
R J
RJ
American Institute for Voice and Ear Research, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.
Sataloff
R T
RT
Emerich
K
K
Rulnick
R
R
Baroody
M
M
Spiegel
J R
JR
Durson
G
G
Butler
J
J
D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D014834:Voice Training