Ansa Cervicalis-to-Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Anastomosis for Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: Experience of a Single Institution

Abstract

This technique for treating UVFP results in significant improvements in patients' voice and on visual examination.

Spontaneous regeneration of recurrent laryngeal nerve following long‐term vocal fold paralysis in humans: Histologic evidence

“…1 As a common neurologic phenomenon, spontaneous regeneration of axons is likely to occur following peripheral nerve injury, by which the targeted organ restores physiologic function to some degree. Recovery of laryngeal function is dependent on the type, extent, and site of RLN lesion.…”

Ansa-RLN reinnervation for unilateral vocal fold paralysis in adolescents and young adults

“…Several other studies have detailed the voice outcomes of this procedure that document its effectiveness in treating dysphonia from unilateral vocal fold paralysis, however very few have reported outcomes in adolescents and young adults [10,15,17,18]. In an updated large case series of ansa-RLN reinnervation procedure in 46 patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis, the youngest patient was 22 years of age, and the average age was 53 years [19].…”

Ansa to recurrent laryngeal neurorrhaphy in the setting of laryngeal nerve sacrifice: a cadaveric study to evaluate a reconstructive option

“…A unique advantage of the approach is that it restores vocal tone without affecting mucosal wave properties. It is the only procedure to date which frequently results in symmetric mucosal waves on both sides during postoperative video stroboscopy [3,5]. Injection laryngoplasty can often be done at the same time to provide an immediate benefit while the nerve reinnervation reaches its optimal outcome, and laryngeal framework surgery including medialization thyroplasty is not precluded in the future should the reinnervation fail in its effectiveness.…”

“…Various nerve strategies for reinnervation have been described. The methods include nerve-muscle pedicle, muscle-nerve-muscle pedicle, and donor nerve-RLN anastomosis [3]. The approach has been divided into selective reinnervation, which targets specific laryngeal adductor and abductor muscles, and unselective reinnervation [4].…”