Learn About Laryngeal Nerve Damage
Laryngeal nerve damage is injury to one or both of the nerves that cause the voice box to function.
Vocal cord paralysis
Injury to the laryngeal nerves is uncommon.
When it does occur, it can be from:
- A complication of neck or chest surgery (especially thyroid, lung, heart surgery, or cervical spine surgery)
- A breathing tube in the windpipe (endotracheal tube)
- A viral infection that affects the nerves
- Tumors in the neck or upper chest, such as thyroid or lung cancer
- A neurological condition
- Neck or chest trauma
Symptoms include:
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness
Injury to the left and right laryngeal nerves at the same time can cause a breathing problem. This can be an urgent medical problem.
Treatment depends on the cause of the injury. In some cases, no treatment may be needed and the nerve may recover on its own. Voice therapy is useful in some cases.
If surgery is needed, the goal is to change the position of the paralyzed vocal cord to improve the voice. This can be done with:
- Arytenoid adduction (stitches to move the vocal cord toward the middle of the airway)
- Injections of collagen, Gelfoam, or another substance
- Thyroplasty
If both the left and right nerves are damaged, a hole may need to be cut into the windpipe (tracheotomy) right away to allow breathing. This is followed by another surgery at a later date.
New York University
Milan Amin is an Otolaryngologist in New York, New York. Dr. Amin is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngeal Nerve Damage. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.
Proliance Surgeons
Craig Villari, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist. He treats a broad spectrum of ear, nose, and throat conditions in both adults and children. He has a special interest in caring for voice, airway, and swallowing concerns and is a post-graduate member of the American Laryngologic Society. He takes great pride in making sure his patients understand their diagnoses and treatment options.Dr. Villari grew up in Buffalo, New York but spent other parts of his childhood in Saint Louis, Missouri and Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated summa cum laude from Emory University where he also completed medical training and otolaryngology residency. He completed an extra year of subspecialty training in laryngology at the University of California, San Francisco and then practiced for four years at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He has published multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, serves as a peer-reviewer for top journals, and has been an invited national and international speaker for his field.He lives on the Eastside with his wife, their son, daughter, and basset hound, Pickles. Outside of medicine, he enjoys reading, golf, and following professional sports. He's a Kraken fan and optimistic the NBA will make a return to the Emerald City. Dr. Villari is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngeal Nerve Damage. His top areas of expertise are Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Throat Cancer, and Laryngectomy.
University Of Penn-Medical Group
Kevin Leahy is an Otolaryngologist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Leahy is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngeal Nerve Damage. His top areas of expertise are Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Tracheobronchomalacia, Acquired Tracheomalacia, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy.
The outlook depends on the cause of the injury. In some cases, the nerve rapidly returns to normal. However, sometimes the damage is permanent.
Contact your provider if you have:
- Difficulty breathing (call right away)
- Unexplained hoarseness that lasts for more than 3 weeks
Summary: In all thyroid surgeries, many surgeons utilize drains on a regular basis and have done so for years according to recommendations. Due to the thyroid's high vascularization throughout its endocrine function, any haemorrhage inside the closed paratracheal space has the potential to impede venous and lymphatic drainage, which might result in airway blockage and laryngopharyngeal oedema. Surgeons rou...
Published Date: October 28, 2024
Published By: Ashutosh Kacker, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Attending Otolaryngologist, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Dexter EU. Perioperative care of the thoracic surgical patient. In: Sellke FW, del Nido PJ, Swanson SJ, eds. Sabiston and Spencer Surgery of the Chest. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 4.
Nouraei SAR, Sandhu GS. Laryngeal and esophageal trauma. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 66.
Woodson G. Pathophysiology of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. In: Randolph GW, ed. Surgery of the Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 42.