Paradoxical vocal cord motion causing strider after thyroidectomy

Two women developed strider immediately after thyroidectomy as a result of paradoxical vocal cord motion. In both cases the cord function showed a nor mal pattern during vocalisation but paradoxical movement was seen at laryng oscopy during tidal breathing. The abnormality improved in both patients ov er time with speech therapy. Whilst the syndrome of paradoxical vocal cord motion is classically thought to have a largely psychological aetiology, su btle interference with laryngeal innervation at surgery is more likely to h ave been the cause in these cases.