Results of ansa to recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe the results of ansa cervicalis to recurrent laryngeal nerve (ansa-RLN) reinnervation for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.


METHODS
A chart review was performed on patients undergoing ansa-RLN reinnervation for unilateral vocal cord paralysis at a tertiary care center. Patient perceptions of preoperative and postoperative voice quality was surveyed. Acoustic and visual parameters were assessed from videostroboscopy.


RESULTS
From a total of 25 study patients, 15 patients underwent both preoperative and postoperativ video stroboscopies. In stroboscopies within 6 months, the average improvement in overall severity, roughness, and breathiness was 69, 79, and 100 percent, respectively. In stroboscopies after 6 months, the average improvement in overall severity, roughness, and breathiness was 63, 66, and 100 percent, respectively. Postoperatively, all patients had reinnervation of the vocal fold.


CONCLUSIONS
Voice outcomes were improved in patients with preoperative and postoperative stroboscopies.


CONCLUSIONS
Ansa-RLN reinnervation should be considered as a treatment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.
Lee
Walter T
WT
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Milstein
Claudio
C
Hicks
Douglas
D
Akst
Lee M
LM
Esclamado
Ramon M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D049489:Stroboscopy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology