Videostroboscopic findings in unilateral superior laryngeal nerve paralysis and paresis

Abstract

Objectives Our aim was to present laryngovideostroboscopic findings in unilateral superior laryngeal nerve paresis and paralysis. Study Design And Setting Retrospective case review, academic voice clinic. Methods Blinded retrospective review of videostroboscopic recordings from cases confirmed by laryngeal electromyography. Results Three cases of unilateral superior laryngeal nerve paresis and paralysis were identified. At rest, there were no common abnormal laryngeal findings. Upon phonation, common findings were ipsilateral vocal fold bowing and shortening, vocal process height asymmetry with the ipsilateral vocal process overriding the normal, and ipsilateral hyperadduction of the false vocal fold. Conclusions The common features noted in these cases of laryngeal electromyography-proved uSLNp could be used to make a presumptive diagnosis of this disorder.