Purpose of surgery
Reinnervation of a branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve may restore some lost function to the larynx. It is useful to redirect timing of muscle contraction and block nerve input from inappropriate branches that cause inappropriate timing of muscle contraction. It can block input from central nervous system induced spasms.
Technical name of surgery
Selective denervation of the anterior branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve followed by reinnervation with the ansa cervicalis nerve.
Indications
Permanent treatment for reducing or eliminating spasms in adductor spasmodic dysphonia
Reinnervate the anterior branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve for vocal cord paresis or paralysis.
Block inappropriate innervation of the larynx causing laryngospasm
Block inappropriate innervation of the larynx causing dyspnea or stridor
Description
The nerve branch that I typically selectively cut, in order to denervate the larynx, is the anterior branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.