Laryngeal Nerve Damage Overview
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.
South Florida ENT Associates - Fort Lauderdale
Kendall Hanft is an Otolaryngologist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Hanft and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngeal Nerve Damage. Her top areas of expertise are Ethmoiditis, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Sinusitis, and Empyema.
South Florida Surgical Specialists LLC
Wilson Dumornay is a Plastic Surgeon and a General Surgeon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Dumornay and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngeal Nerve Damage. His top areas of expertise are Hearing Loss, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Empyema, Myringotomy, and Thyroidectomy. Dr. Dumornay is currently accepting new patients.
George Georgakakis is an Otolaryngologist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Georgakakis and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngeal Nerve Damage. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Sinusitis, Empyema, Palatopharyngeal Incompetence, and Myringotomy. Dr. Georgakakis is currently accepting new patients.
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: November 29, 2022
Published By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. 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. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016: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.