LARYNGEAL REINNERVATION

Laryngeal reinnervation is a surgery performed for patients with vocal fold paralysis. This surgery is performed because an individual has lost innervation, or nerve supply to one of the vocal folds. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is normally responsible for innervating, or powering each vocal fold. In this surgery, the recurrent laryngeal nerve is identified. Because it is no longer functioning, the nerve is cut. Then a donor nerve, known as the ansa cervicalis nerve is attached to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. With time nerve fibers grow from the donor nerve towards the larynx. While this procedure does not provide movement of the vocal fold it does provide tone and bulk to the vocal fold. The end result usually is not known for at least six months to one year. During that time, vocal fold injection can be used to bulk up the vocal fold.