Nerve-muscle pedicle reinnervation of the paralyzed vocal cord

Reinnervation offers great potential for the rehabilitation of the paralyzed larynx, a potential that has yet to be realized. The nerve-muscle pedicle (NMP) technique is one method of reinnervation that attempts to transfer a nerve with a portion of its muscle intact to a denervated muscle. The selection of the nerve to incorporate into a NMP is examined in the first part of this article. Experimental data that argue for and against the use of a NMP, a description of the indications and the techniques for the procedure, and a review of the clinical results are detailed.