Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Case Related to COVID-19

Abstract Introduction: Although the most common neuro-otolaryngological findings associated with COVID-19 infection are chemosensory changes, it should be known that these patients may present with different clinical findings.Case summary: We present a 57-year-old woman who developed progressive hoarseness while suffering from COVID-19 infection without a history of chronic disease or any other etiological cause. Laryngeal fiberscopy revealed left vocal cord fixed at the cadaveric position and there was 5-6 mm intraglottic gap during phonation. No other etiological cause was found in the examinations performed with detailed ear nose throat examination, neurological evaluations and imaging methods. Injection laryngoplasty was applied to the patient, and voice therapy was initiated, resulting in significant improvement in voice quality. Discussion: The mechanism of the idiopatic vocal cord paralysis remains unclear, it is suspected to be related to COVID-19 neuropathy, because the patient had no preexisting vascular risk factors or evidence of other neurologic disease on neuroimaging. Laryngeal nerve palsies may represent part of the neurologic spectrum of COVID-19. Conclusion: The possibility of the peripheral nerves damage caused by SARS-CoV-2, vocal cord paralysis should be considered when voice changes occur during COVID 19 infection.