Vold Fold Paralysis Summary

Communication, verbal or non-verbal, is a part of our everyday life. Communication Disorders involve a wide variety of problems in speech, language, and hearing. For example, speech and language disorders include stuttering, aphasia, voice disorders (hoarseness, breathiness, or sudden breaks in loudness or pitch), phonological disorders, etc. The vocal folds play a significant part in speech, swallowing, and breathing. Vocal Fold paralysis occurs when one or both of the vocal folds do not open properly. The paralysis can occur at any age, in male or female and in any race from a variety of causes. Vocal fold paralysis can result from injury, tumors, surgery, viral infection, lung or thyroid cancer, exposure to smoking, tumors, etc. There are three common surgical procedures that can be used for treatment: medialization thyroplasty, arytenoids adduction, and vocal fold injection. The three most important learning objective include: the importance of your vocal fold, understanding what vocal fold paralysis is, and what treatments are available. Learning to deal and cope with the dysfunction of your vocal folds can be a struggle but with the right treatment, dedication, and being knowledgeable about the paralysis you can overcome the obstacle. Vocal fold paralysis can be frustrating and sometimes debilitating, especially since your voice is so important to your personality. Regardless if you are born with a communication disorder or develop it sometime during your life, it is of essence that you seek treatment.

The Adjustable Layngeal Implant

A modifiable laryngeal implant made of titanium has been developed for the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis. The implant includes three parts: a plate that allows fixation to the thyroid cartilage, a block of titanium which includes the adjustable part, and a micrometric screw in the middle of the lateral side of the block, which moves the adjustable part. Defined medialization is accomplished by modifiable the screw which also allow easy secondary adjustments. This retrospective study assesses clinical outcomes of medialization laryngoplasty with the titanium changeable implant, in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. This study has the boundaries of a retrospective study. However, prelude outcome are hopeful. Examination of one-sided responses confirmed marked growth in laryngeal function, speech, and swallowing. The adjustable laryngeal implant has many advantages including: precise medialization, ease of secondary adjustment, and perseveration of the mucosal wave.

Journal of Voice, Volume 15, Issue 1, March 2001, Pages 141-150Carole M. Dean, Christian Ahmarani, Maurice Bettez, Reinhardt J. Heuer

Vocal Fold Paresis and Paralysis

Identification and treatment of the motionless vocal fold are challenging for the otolaryngologist. True paralysis and paresis result from vocal fold denervation secondary to injury to the laryngeal. Vocal fold paresis or paralysis may be unilateral or bilateral, central or marginal and it may engage the frequent laryngeal nerve, superior laryngeal nerve, or both. The physician's first job in any case of vocal fold paresis or paralysis is to verify the finding and be sure that the laryngeal activity impairment is not caused by arytenoid cartilage dislocation or subluxation, cricoarytenoid arthritis or ankylosis, neoplasm, or other mechanical causes.

With this journal I found it to be extremely educational. It breaks down the information into several different sections that includes treatments, evaluation, anatomy, paralysis in children, etc. For someone who is pretty much clueless to the disorder, this journal will give you a great understanding of the disorder as well as treatments.

Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, Volume 40, Issue 5, October 2007, Pages 1109-1131Adam D. Rubin, Robert T. Sataloff

Vocal Folds

The link to Vocal Fold Paralysis an Paresis is another website that provides with you with information regarding the disorder. It also provides you with a video clip of a person with a paralyzed left vocal fold. It also provides you with a few other pictures to go with the information that is provided.

http://www.ucdvoice.org/paresis.html

Voice Problems

Understanding Vocal Cord Paresis/Paralysis is an important factor when dealing with vocal cord dysfunctions. It is important to know the difference between partial paresis of the cords and complete paralysis of the cords. Anyone of any age group or sex can develop Vocal Cord Paresis/Paralysis. The symptoms are common among most patients. They experience voice problems such as hoariness, airway problems and swallowing issues. Treatment can be voice therapy or surgery.

The website gives you a breakdown of understanding the disorder, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, highlights, and frontiers. It also provides you with a glossary of keys words and pictures so you can have a better and complete understanding of the disorder.

http://www.voiceproblem.org/disorders/paresis/index.asp

Vocal Cord Facts

Vocal cord paresis and paralysis result from deviant nerve involvement to the voice box muscles. Paralysis is the complete disturbance of nerve impulse resulting in no movement of the muscle; Paresis is limited interruption of nerve impulse resulting in frail or peculiar activity of laryngeal muscle(s). Vocal fold movements are an outcome of synchronized spasm of assorted muscles. These muscles are controlled by the brain through a precise set of nerves. The nerves that accept these signals are the: Superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), which carries signals to the cricothyroid muscle, located between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages and the Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) carries signals to different voice box muscles responsible for opening vocal folds (as in breathing, coughing), closing vocal folds for vocal fold vibration during voice use, and closing vocal folds during swallowing. Even with advances in diagnostic technology, physicians are unable to detect the cause in about half of all vocal fold paralyses. These cases are referred to as idiopathic (due to unknown origins). Known reasons for injury can include:
Inadvertent injury during surgery
Complication from endotracheal intubation
Blunt neck or chest trauma
Tumors of the skull base, neck, and chest
Tumors of the skull base, neck, and chest
Symptoms of Vocal Fold Paralysis/Paresis consist of:
Voice changes
Airway problems
Swallowing problems
Determining whether one or both vocal folds are affected is critical in the treatment plan. The two treatment strategies to enhance vocal function are voice therapy, the equivalent of physical therapy for large muscle paresis/paralysis; and phonosurgery, an operation that repositions and/or reshapes the vocal fold(s) to improve voice function.

http://www.entlink.net/HealthInformation/vocalChordParalysis.cfm

Surgery for Vocal Fold Paralysis

Treatments for Vocal Fold Paresis may vary depending upon the method the otolaryngologist chooses to try. Voice Therapy is a preferred method to use in hopes of correcting the vocal folds with out surgery. Voice Therapy involves exercises to improve breathing and strenghtening of the cords. Another treatment is by adding bulk to the vocal cords by surgically implanting a silicone block. This will give the cords the extra bulkiness it needs to act as the cords would do normally. After surgery patients still undergo voice therapy which helps to train the vocal cords. Another treatment for bilateral paralyzed vocal cords can be the surgical procedure of tracheotomy. A tracheotomy is a tube that is placed in a person's stoma to help for breathing. Normal breathing is not done through the nose and mouth when a trach is surgically implanted.


http://www.entcolumbia.org/parsurg.html

My Vocal Cords After Implants

My Vocal Cords Before Implants