Clinical review: Current concepts in the management of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis after thyroid surgery.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to provide an update on the pathophysiological concepts and patient management in a common complication of thyroid surgery, unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (URLNP).


METHODS
Recent publications in physiology and head and neck surgery were reviewed.


RESULTS
Even for experienced surgeons, URLNP may occur after thyroid surgery, especially for thyroid cancer and in case of reoperation. URLNP is frequently well tolerated but may be life threatening by inducing aspiration pneumonia. Permanent URLNP may decrease quality of life by decreasing voice quality and increasing vocal effort. Spontaneous recovery of vocal function, with or without full recovery of vocal fold motion, may occur due to spontaneous axonal regrowth or other neurological phenomena. In the last decade, several surgical techniques have been developed to treat aspiration and poor voice quality due to URLNP by medialization of the paralyzed vocal fold. These techniques are simple, have a low complication rate, and are highly efficient in eliminating aspiration and improving voice quality and quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The voice and swallowing handicap caused by URLNP may be efficiently treated by safe and simple techniques. The possibility to improve the quality of life should be proposed to all patients with symptomatic URLNP.
Hartl
Dana M
DM
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Institut Gustave Roussy, rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805 Villejuif Cédex, France. hartl@igr.fr
Travagli
Jean-Paul
JP
Leboulleux
Sophie
S
Baudin
Eric
E
Brasnu
Daniel F
DF
Schlumberger
Martin
M
D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*