Nerve/muscle pedicle graft for bilateral vocal cord palsy

The nerve-muscle pedicle graft was successfully used in six of the seven patients admitted with bilateral vocal cord palsy. The diagnostic evaluation included bilateral vocal cord palsy for more than six months; passive mobility test of the arytenoids under general anaesthesia; and exclusion of an organic lesion as a cause of the vocal cord paralysis. The post-operative assessment was done by indirect or direct laryngoscopy. An improvement in phonation and respiration was noted 4 to 10 weeks after the operation. An exertional test was performed. Identification of the origin of ansa cervicalis from the hypoglossal nerve facilitated the operation.