Electroacupuncture-Based Cerebral Electric Field Therapy for Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis with Secondary Dysphagia Post Upper Respiratory Infection

Summary

This manuscript presents a treatment protocol using electroacupuncture-based cerebral electric field therapy for post-infectious unilateral vocal fold paralysis with dysphagia, aiming to improve vocal and swallowing function through neuroanatomically targeted acupuncture interventions.

Abstract

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis secondary to peripheral nerve injury presents limited treatment options and inconsistent outcomes. This protocol describes an electroacupuncture-based cerebral electric field therapy designed to target neuroanatomically relevant pathways through combined scalp, posterior cervical, and anterior neck electroacupuncture. The procedure includes standardized point selection, stimulation parameters, and treatment sequencing, followed by objective functional assessment using laryngoscopy and videofluoroscopic swallowing study. In a representative case, the application of this protocol was associated with observable improvements in voice quality and swallowing function. Patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis frequently experience hoarseness, dysphagia, aspiration, and reduced laryngeal sensation, leading to substantial functional limitations and decreased quality of life. This protocol demonstrates the feasibility of electroacupuncture-based cerebral electric field therapy as a structured intervention for unilateral vocal fold paralysis and provides a reproducible framework for future clinical exploration. Additional investigation may help clarify its potential role as a supportive therapeutic option. Future controlled studies may further evaluate its clinical effectiveness and applicability.

Introduction

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) is caused by injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), resulting in partial or complete impairment of vocal fold mobility¹. Due to the longer anatomical course of the left RLN around the aortic arch, left-sided paralysis is more frequently observed.². Patients commonly present with hoarseness, vocal fatigue, dysphagia, aspiration, and reduced laryngeal sensation, all of which substantially affect quality of life. The most prevalent etiologies of UVFP include iatrogenic nerve injury during surgery, tumor compression, and external trauma^2,

Protocol

This study reports a single retrospective clinical case conducted as part of routine clinical practice at the second affiliated hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine. According to institutional policies, formal ethical approval was not required for single case reports. After thorough communication and informed consent, EA was performed by an experienced senior acupuncturist with more than five decades of clinical practice. All materials used in this procedure are listed in the Table of Materials.

1. Practitioner qualification and patient preparation

1. Practitioner qualification: All procedures we....

Results

Swallowing and voice function were objectively evaluated using the VHI, YPRSRS (vallecula and pyriform sinus), WST, and FOIS. These standardized tools demonstrated progressive improvements during the treatment and follow-up periods, as detailed in Table 2.

After one week of EA treatment, the patient reported no significant improvement. By the second week (after 8 sessions), pharyngeal discomfort and a foreign-body sensation were alleviated. Swallowing became easier without obv.......

Discussion

This patient initially presented with prominent symptoms of URTI, including sore throat and pharyngeal discomfort, followed by the gradual onset of hoarseness and dysphagia. This temporal sequence suggested a potential post-infectious mechanism underlying the development of UVFP. Viral or bacterial pathogens can induce acute inflammatory changes in the laryngopharyngeal mucosa, leading to mucosal congestion and edema. Persistent inflammation may result in submucosal thickening due to fibrous proliferation and hyaline deg.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
75% Ethanol(commercially available)	Widely available	N/A
Pulse Electrotherapy Device	Great Wall®, Changzhou,China	KWD-808I (https://www.vedeng.com/zhucezheng/gc/40971.html)
Sterile acupuncture needles (0.30 × 40 mm; 0.30 × 60 mm)	Andi®, Guizhou, China	Product link-https://www.qxw18.com/info/show-25306.html