[The key problems of diagnosis and treatment of vocal cord paralysis]

Abstract

Vocal cord paralysis is a common condition that significantly impairs laryngeal function and can even be life-threatening. Over nearly a century, researchers have conducted extensive animal and clinical studies to achieve accurate diagnosis and restore laryngeal function, making significant progress. Approaches have evolved from mechanically narrowing the glottis to restore phonation, to enlarging the glottis to relieve breathing difficulties, and ultimately to the development of surgical techniques aimed at restoring vocal cord mobility, significantly advancing the field. The publication of expert consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of vocal cord paralysis has standardized the principles and technical standards for managing this condition. However, a vast amount of related knowledge-including the disease's pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, surgical principles, and techniques-still requires broader dissemination and further refinement. Advancing this knowledge will guide clinical practice and further enhance the diagnosis and treatment of this condition in China.

Keywords: glottic enlargement; laryngeal frameword operation; reccurent laryngeal nerve; reinnervation; vocal cord paralysis.