Vocal fold motion outcome based on excellent prognosis with laryngeal electromyography.

As laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) becomes more refined, accurate predictions of vocal fold motion recovery are possible. Focus has been on outcomes for patients with poor prognosis for vocal fold motion recovery. Limited information is available regarding the expected rate of purposeful vocal fold motion recovery when there is good to normal motor recruitment, no signs of denervation, and no signs of synkinetic activity with LEMG, termed excellent prognosis. The objective of this study is to determine the rate of vocal fold motion recovery with excellent prognosis findings on LEMG after acute recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Retrospective review. Patients undergoing a standardized LEMG protocol, consisting of qualitative (evaluation of motor recruitment, motor unit configuration, detection of fibrillations, presence of synkinesis) and quantitative (turns analysis) measurements were evaluated for purposeful vocal-fold motion recovery, calculated after at least 6 months since onset of injury. Twenty-three patients who underwent LEMG for acute vocal fold paralysis met the inclusion criteria of excellent prognosis. Eighteen patients (78.3%) recovered vocal fold motion, as determined by flexible laryngoscopy. Nearly 80% of patients determined to have excellent prognosis for vocal fold motion recovery experienced return of vocal fold motion. This information will help clinicians not only counsel their patients on expectations but will also help guide treatment. 4. Laryngoscope, 126:2310-2314, 2016.

Smith LJ ，Rosen CA ，Munin MC 《-》

Quantitative electromyography improves prediction in vocal fold paralysis.

Quantitative laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) using turns analysis can differentiate acute vocal fold paralysis from normal controls. The objective of this study is to determine if using both traditional qualitative LEMG measurements in addition to turns analysis improves prognostic accuracy in patients with acute vocal fold paralysis who demonstrate voluntary motor activity. Retrospective review of LEMG data (qualitative and quantitative) and charts of patients with vocal fold paralysis on flexible laryngoscopy, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, and varying degrees of motor unit recruitment. Laryngeal EMG using a standardized protocol involving qualitative (evaluation of recruitment, motor unit configuration, detection of fibrillations, synkinesis) and quantitative (turns analysis) measurements was performed. Prognosis was correlated with vocal fold motion recovery status (minimum of 6 months following onset) using positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV). Twenty-three patients underwent LEMG for acute recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. All four patients with excellent LEMG prognosis recovered motion, whereas 17/19 patients with fair/poor LEMG prognosis were without motion at least 6 months following onset, resulting in a 100% PPV and 89.5% NPV. Integrating both qualitative and quantitative LEMG data improves prognostic accuracy in vocal fold paralysis patients who demonstrate voluntary motor unit activity.

Smith LJ ，Rosen CA ，Niyonkuru C ，Munin MC ... -  《-》

Innervation status in chronic vocal fold paralysis and implications for laryngeal reinnervation.

Treatment options for symptomatic unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP) include vocal fold augmentation, laryngeal framework surgery, and laryngeal reinnervation. Laryngeal reinnervation (LR) has been suggested to provide "tone" to the paralyzed VF. This implies a loss of tone as a result of denervation without reinnervation. We performed laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) in patients with chronic VFP to understand the innervation status associated with a chronically paralyzed vocal fold. Retrospective review of LEMG data in adult patients with chronic VFP from January 2009 to December 2014. LEMG was performed at least 6 months after-onset of VFP. Qualitative LEMG, quantitative LEMG, and adductory synkinesis testing were performed, and the parameters were collected. Twenty-seven vocal folds were studied (23 unilateral VFP and 2 bilateral VFP). Average age was 59 ± 17 years. The median duration from recurrent laryngeal nerve injury to LEMG was 8.5 months (range 6-90 months). The majority of patients, 24 of 27 (89%), had motor unit potentials during phonation tasks on LEMG, and only 3 of 27 (11%) patients were electrically silent. Quantitative LEMG showed 287.8 mean turns per second (normal ≥ 400). Motor unit configuration was normal in 12 of 27 (44%), polyphasic in 12 of 27 (44%), and absent in the electrically silent patients. Adductory synkinesis was found in 6 of 20 (30%) patients. Chronic vocal fold paralysis is infrequently associated with absent motor-unit recruitment, indicating some degree of preserved innervation and/or reinnervation in these patients. LEMG should be part of the routine workup for chronic VFP prior to consideration of LR. 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1628-1633, 2018.

Lin RJ ，Smith LJ ，Munin MC ，Sridharan S ，Rosen CA ... -  《-》

Electromyographic laryngeal synkinesis alters prognosis in vocal fold paralysis.

Statham MM ，Rosen CA ，Smith LJ ，Munin MC ... -  《-》

Utility of laryngeal electromyography in predicting recovery after vocal fold paralysis.

Munin MC ，Rosen CA ，Zullo T 《ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION》