[Laryngeal paralysis after tracheal intubation for anesthesia]

A 17 year old man was anaesthetized for osteosynthesis of a fractured left femoral diaphysis. Endotracheal intubation was easy, anaesthesia and surgery were both uneventful. On recovery, some hoarseness was noticed. Two months later, an ENT examination showed signs of laryngeal paralysis. The presumed explanation was compression of the recurrent nerve by the high-positioned balloon of the tracheal tube. Recovery was complete four months later.