Nimodipine and microsurgery induced recovery of the vocal cord after recurrent laryngeal nerve resection.

P Mattsson, G Björck, S Remahl, M Bäckdahl, B Hamberger, J Hydman, M Svensson

Journal: The Laryngoscope 2006;115(10):1863-5

PMID: 16222210

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Abstract

Transection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve leads to permanent palsy of the vocal cord. Experimental studies have confirmed that nimodipine increases the pace of axonal regeneration. We present a case of a 19-year-old male, suffering a thyroid cancer disease, who was subjected to unilateral resection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery. The nerve was repaired with a nerve graft and the patient further treated with nimodipine for 3 months. Evaluation of the patient showed normalization of voice, movement of the vocal cord on the injured side, and electromyography evidence of reinnervation of the larynx muscles at 15 months after surgery.

Address: Institution of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Neurosurgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1097/01.mlg.0000177034.51559.50

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MeSH Terms: Adenocarcinoma, Papillary, Adult, Calcium Channel Blockers, Humans, Male, Microsurgery, Nerve Regeneration, Neurosurgical Procedures, Nimodipine, Recovery of Function, Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries, Sural Nerve, Thyroid Neoplasms, Thyroidectomy, Trauma, Nervous System, Treatment Outcome, Vocal Cord Paralysis