J Korean Dysphagia Soc.  2023 Jul;13(2):117-123. 10.34160/jkds.23.007.

Office-Based Injection Laryngoplasty in Patients with High Vagal Paralysis

• Joo YH
• Kim HB
• Park YH

• KMID: 2545123
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.34160/jkds.23.007

Abstract

Objective
High vagal paralysis (HVP) is a type of vocal-fold paralysis, associated with discoordination of the pharyngeal musculature, and the failure of the cricopharyngeus muscle to relax, leading to swallowing disability. We evaluated the difference between the functional results of office-based injection laryngoplasty and medialization thyroplasty in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis caused by HVP.
Methods
A retrospective review of 28 patients following laryngoplasty with HVP was performed. Pre- and posttreatment swallowing and voice functions were reviewed.
Results
Seventeen patients underwent injection laryngoplasties, while 11 received medialization thyroplasties. In both groups, all except one patient who received medialization thyroplasty recovered their ability to swallow after appropriate procedures (100% vs. 91%). An acoustic analysis demonstrated significant changes in shimmer, noiseto-harmonic ratio, and maximum phonation time (MPT) in the injection laryngoplasty group, whereas significant changes in jitter and MPT were observed in the medialization thyroplasty group.
Conclusion
Office-based injection laryngoplasty was found to be an effective and reliable therapy for improving swallowing and voice function in patients with HVP, compared to medialization thyroplasty.

Keyword

Vagus nerve injury; Laryngoplasty; Deglutition disorders; Voice disorders; Treatment outcome