Introduction

Injection medialization is a temporary measure to improve glottic insufficiency and thus treat dysphonia or aspiration in vocal fold immobility. It is a good option even when there is a possibility for recovery of vocal fold function.

Preoperative Evaluation and Anesthesia

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  See section 46.1.2 preoperative evaluation.

  
  
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  Discussion regarding injection as a temporary treatment, and consideration of possible materials and their duration of effectiveness (short-term 2–3 months vs. long-term 1–2 years). Disclosure that injection material use in children is “off-label” use of an FDA-approved (United States Food and Drug Administration) procedure in adults.

  
  
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  Injection medialization may be of limited effectiveness when the problem is caused by a large posterior glottic gap.

  
  
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  Short-term injection with gel-type material often provides better voice outcomes and better plumping of the vocal fold in children compared to the longer-term more viscous injectates.

  
  
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  Spontaneous ventilation without endotracheal tube by anesthesia is recommended. Insufflation via an endotracheal tube placed in the hypopharynx may be helpful.

Surgical Technique

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  Vocal fold mobility is assessed before deepening anesthesia.

  
  
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  Suspension microlaryngoscopy or suspension with visualization of a telescope rod is used. Palpation to rule out cricoarytenoid fixation and other lesions causing immobility is performed.

  
  
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  The injection material is prepared and the needle primed. Some materials come pre-packaged with a long transoral needle. Otherwise, bruning syringe or a 25-gauge butterfly needle with cut flanges and grasped with a cupped or alligator forceps may be used.

  
  
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  Injection is performed anterior and lateral to the involved vocal process (▶ Fig. 46.1a). This is best done by using the side of the needle to slightly lateralize the false vocal fold on the affected side, aiming to inject lateral to the thyroarytenoid muscle (▶ Fig. 46.2). Make sure that the needle is not too deep that the material extrudes intraluminally on the undersurface of the vocal fold or too superficial such that it goes into the lamina propria causing a poor voice outcome by disrupting the mucosal wave. With gentle continuous pressure on the syringe plunger, plumping of the vocal fold and reduction of the glottis gap is achieved (▶ Fig. 46.1b and ▶ Video 46.1).

Postoperative Treatment

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  No postoperative restrictions are necessary.

  
  
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  The family should be advised that the voice may be strained in the first 2 weeks.

Introduction

Unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation allows for improving posterior glottic closure at the interarytenoid level and maintaining increased tone of the paralyzed vocal fold to improve voice and to manage aspiration. Most commonly, one of the ansa cervicalis nerve roots is used to anastomose and innervate the affected recurrent laryngeal nerve. Since this procedure requires transection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), it is imperative that irreversible damage to the nerve is ascertained before proceeding. This is confirmed with an intraoperative laryngeal EMG (electromyography). Often, patients have already undergone an injection medialization laryngoplasty to confirm its effectiveness before deciding to undergo a more definitive surgery such as a unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation.

Preoperative Evaluation and Anesthesia

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  See above section 46.1.2 preoperative evaluation.

  
  
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  A laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) is obtained intraoperatively to confirm paralysis.

  
  
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  This procedure is generally performed in conjunction with a temporary vocal fold injection medializaton to allow for immediate improvement while reinnervation takes effect.

  
  
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  No paralysis to allow nerve stimulation.

Surgical Technique

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  A shoulder roll is placed and the head turned to the opposite side. Standard prepping and draping is performed.

  
  
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  Mark the point along the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) where the omohyoid muscle crosses the carotid sheath. This is the midpoint of your curvilinear incision (approx. 3 cm). Subplastysmal flaps are elevated.

  
  
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  The anterior border of the SCM is dissected to allow posterior retraction and the omohyoid muscle is dissected where it crosses under the SCM and is retracted medially and inferiorly (▶ Fig. 46.3).

  
  
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  The ansa cervicalis can be found overlying the internal jugular vein (IJV). Its inferior loop and its branches (to omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid) are located (▶ Fig. 46.4a, b and ▶ Video 46.2). A nerve stimulator may be used to confirm the integrity of the ansa cervicalis donor nerve roots.

  
  
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  Next, the RLN is identified in the tracheoesophageal groove by elevating the straps from the thyroid gland (from a lateral approach), and dissecting caudal to the inferior pole of the ipsilateral thyroid lobe (▶ Fig. 46.5 and ▶ Video 46.3). In cases where the nerve is not easily found, you may need to identify it at its insertion into larynx by the cricothyroid joint after reflecting the superior thyroid pole inferiorly and medially and performing retrograde dissection to achieve a nerve segment that is 1 to 2 cm to ensure tension-free anastomosis. Care should be taken to avoid injury to the parathyroid glands.

  
  
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  A tunnel is created under the strap muscles to allow anastomosis between the ansa cervicalis and RLN (▶ Fig. 46.6 and ▶ Video 46.4). A ¼-inch penrose may be used to retract the straps medially so that the anastomosis can be performed with good exposure of both nerves.

  
  
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  A sterile-draped microscope and microinstruments are used to perform the anastomosis (▶ Fig. 46.7 a, b and ▶ Video 46.5).

  
  
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  Determine which ansa cervicalis branch has the best caliber match to the RLN, verifying that it can be mobilized to create a tension-free anastomosis. Transect it distally.

  
  
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  Transect the RLN with a 1- to 2-cm stump to allow rotation toward the lateral neck.

  
  
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  The author tags both nerves with a micro-ligature clip so that the nerve does not retract, making it difficult to find. Once ready for the actual microneurography, the ligature is cut and the nerve edge freshened.

  
  
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  Use a BV 100–4, 9–0 monofilament nylon suture to approximate the epineuria of the proximal ansa cervicalis nerve end to the distal RLN nerve end. Depending on the nerve caliber, one suture or two sutures placed at two points approximately 180 degrees apart can be used. Tissue glue may be placed around the anastomosis.

  
  
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  Remove the penrose drain retractor and lay the strap muscles back over the anastomosis.

  
  
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  The straps, platysma and skin are closed. No drain is needed.