[Surgical treatment of post-thyroidectomy laryngeal paralysis]

A not infrequent complication of thyroid surgery is laryngeal nerve palsy with transitory or permanent deficiency of cordal motility. A very frequent cause of this condition is total thyroidectomy. Peripheral mono-or bilateral palsy in these cases may either occur, in adduction or abduction, and be complete or not complete. Therefore, different strategies in order to restore respiratory and phonatory functions are required. The Authors describe the main otorhinolaryngologic procedures used for the surgical treatment of laryngeal palsy, particularly for bilateral adducted ones. Their 10-year experience is also reported.