Vocal cord paresis

Vocal fold paresis/paralysis
Classification and external resources
Specialty	otolaryngology
ICD-10	J38.0
ICD-9-CM	478.30
eMedicine	ent/347
MeSH	D014826
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Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (also called vocal fold paralysis or paresis) is the medical term describing an injury to one or both recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs), which control all muscles of the larynx except for the cricothyroid muscle. The RLN is important for vocalization, breathing and swallowing.

The primary larynx-related functions of the mainly efferent nerve fiber RLN, include the transmission of nerve signals to the muscles responsible for regulation of the vocal folds' position and tension to enable vocalization, as well as the transmission of sensory nerve signals from the mucous membrane of the larynx to the brain.

A unilateral injury of the nerve typically results in hoarseness caused by a reduced mobility of one of the vocal folds. It may also cause minor shortages of breath as well as aspiration problems especially concerning liquids. A bilateral injury causes the vocal folds to impair the air flow resulting in breathing problems, stridor and snoring sounds, and fast physical exhaustion. This strongly depends on the median or paramedian position of the paralyzed vocal folds. Hoarseness rarely occurs in bilaterally paralyzed vocal folds.

Vocal fold paresis refers to a partial loss of input to the nerve of the vocal folds. This loss of neural input leads to reduced vocal fold mobility. It is a condition with a variable profile, as the severity of the paresis can range on a wide continuum from minor to major loss of vocal fold mobility. Vocal fold paralysis, distinguished from vocal paresis, is the total loss of vocal fold mobility due to a lack of neural input to the vocal folds. These conditions result from continuous damage to the laryngeal nerves and often lead to vocal disability.Recurrent laryngeal nerve damage is the most common cause of vocal fold paresis. The RLN is responsible for motor input to the vocal folds. Physicians may also use the term recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Additionally, superior laryngeal nerve damage (SLN) can also lead to vocal fold paresis. The SLN is responsible for sensory input to the vocal folds. Due to its variable nature, the progression of vocal fold paresis may fluctuate, so it may be characterized differently from one evaluation to the next. Fluctuating vocal fold paresis has been observed in neurodegenerative disorders like Guillain–Barré syndrome or myasthenia gravis.

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