title: Hoarseness caused by unilateral vocal fold paralysis: how long should one delay phonosurgery?
abstract: We present a case of idiopathic right vocal fold paralysis which resolved completely 18 months after onset. Instead of using surgery to improve the hoarseness of our patient, our experience suggested that speech therapy might be effective. Although the voice can be improved by overadduction of the healthy vocal fold, as surgery is irreversible it is better to wait for 18 months after onset in case spontaneous recovery occurs. During this period, one should of course continue to investigate the origin of the paralysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
authors.forename: Yayoi Suzuki
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kikkawa
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumada
authors.forename: Ryusaburo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Higo
authors.forename: Niro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tayama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013070:Speech Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*