“Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis is the most common and significant complication of thyroid or parathyroid cancer surgery. Unilateral RLN paralysis is often due to the adhesions that accompany thyroid cancer. Even with no signs of paralysis preoperatively, a cancerous thyroid gland may be found firmly adherent to RLN intraoperatively, in which case a segment of RLN must be sacrificed for the sake of cancer eradication.””Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis is the most common and significant complication of thyroid or parathyroid cancer surgery. Unilateral RLN paralysis is often due to the adhesions that accompany thyroid cancer. Even with no signs of paralysis preoperatively, a cancerous thyroid gland may be found firmly adherent to RLN intraoperatively, in which case a segment of RLN must be sacrificed for the sake of cancer eradication.”

“Patients submitting to immediate direct RLN anastomosis demonstrated improved phonation and perceptually rated voice quality compared with patients who did not undergo repair. Consequently, we can verify the therapeutic effect of nerve anastomosis for laryngeal reinnervation in this study.”

Hong JW, et al Outcome with immediate direct anastomosis of recurrent laryngeal nerves injured during thyroidectomy. Laryngoscope. 2014 Jun;124(6):1402-8. Full Text for Emory Users