Abstract
The aim of the article is to discuss and summarize indication for surgical treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis. All types of surgical procedures performed for this disorder (thyroplasty type 1, arytenoid adduction, intracordial Teflon injection, laryngeal reinnervation) are briefly described and their advantages, drawbacks and limitations are discussed.
Any patient with unilateral vocal cord paralysis who has a breathy, weak voice, because of a gap and air leak between vocal cords during phonation, is a candidate for the surgical treatment. Nowadays thyroplasty type 1 is the standard surgical procedure for unilateral vocal cord paralysis.
Thyroplasty type 1 is a safe and reversible surgical technique, which can be performed under local anaesthesia and achieves an excellent vocal quality in almost all patients.