Hi, Celeste.I could be wrong but I think it's possible to do this procedure for both vocal cord paresis or, more rarely, Abductor SD.
That being said, using it for Abductor SD would likely be more controversial and riskier. I would interpret it like this: If someone with Abductor SD were to have some type of surgical procedure that helped bring their vocal folds closer together upon vocalization, it could conceivably have a limited benefit. That is, perhaps one's voice could end up louder. That being said, the Abductor patient's voice may be a bit louder with this type of surgery (and it's just my guess that this would be the case anyway), but still fraught with dystonic spasms and inconsistency. So it may not be the best solution, assuming other treatment options could produce better results.
And yes, to an inexperienced ENT or one not fully familiar with laryngeal dystonias, I bet it's possible to confuse AB/SD with vocal fold paralysis.
Hope that helps. A great place to learn about these surgeries is at support groups (where there are often medical speakers on the subject) or the NSDA's annual symposiums. It's very beneficial listen to numerous SD voices in person as a result of various treatement options so you can see for yourself what you'd consider a feasible option for your own particular case.
Good luck with everything,
Laurie
