Laryngeal reinnervation for unilateral vocal fold paralysis using ansa cervicalis nerve to recurrent laryngeal nerve anastomosis

In laryngeal paralysis, the stiffness of the denervated vocal fold is decreased. This leads to deviant vibratory patterns involving 2 asymmetric vocal folds and results in abnormal vocal quality. Follow-up studies of medialization thyroplasty patients have noted that decrement in vocal quality after medialization is often because of continuing vocal fold atrophy. Vocal cord atrophy from denervation injury can be countered by reinnervation. This article reviews the most commonly performed laryngeal reinnervation procedure for unilateral vocal fold paralysis: ansa cervicalis nerve to recurrent laryngeal nerve anastomosis. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.