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Update: Ansa Cervicalis to Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Anastomosis for Unilateral Laryngeal Paralysis
Author(s) -
Crumley Roger L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.1991.101.4.384
Subject(s) - medicine , recurrent laryngeal nerve , paralysis , surgery , cord , vocal cord paralysis , laryngeal paralysis , anastomosis , arytenoid cartilage , glottis , cordotomy , larynx , anesthesia , spinal cord , thyroid , psychiatry
Twenty cases of unilateral laryngeal paralysis are reported. Satisfactory follow‐up intervals and data (videostroboscopy and glottographic analysis) were available on 12 patients. The excellent to normal phonatory quality achieved in many of these patients indicates that the ansa cervicalis to recurrent laryngeal nerve anastomosis is the procedure of choice in selected patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Excellent medialization of the paralyzed cord, as well as correction of arytenoid malposition and thyroarytenoid muscle atrophy appear to explain the technique's success, since the reinnervated cord neither abducts nor adducts. We feel that this technique is the procedure of choice in younger patients, or those who use their voices professionally, since the phonatory quality achieved is superior to Teflon® injection or Isshiki thyroplasty, and the technique is reversible.