Selecting the Side of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Section for Spastic Dysphonia

Abstract

This study compares the immediate postchemical paralysis voice and speech qualities of 12 spastic dysphonia patients as a function of left and right recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) block. No statistically significant differences for the qualities of overpressure, breathiness, aperiodicity, or tremor were found for the two experimental conditions (left, right). This being the case, and because of left RLN location and course, vocal-fold paralysis on the left is indicated if RLN surgery is elected as a treatment method for spastic dysphonia.