Recurrent nerve paralysis after thyroidectomy. Therapeutic approach.

While recurrent nerve paralysis is a less frequent complication of thyroid surgery today thanks to the surgical techniques effected with identification of the recurrent nerve, it however is not a rare one (4 to 5%). It should systematically be sought by means of laryngoscopy both before and after operation. It is worth an objective assessment, quantitatively with measurement of the phonatory quotient and maximum phonatory time as well as qualitatively with analysis of vocal frequency. The often speech pathologist treatment is completed by injection of GAX collagen into the vocal fold by endoscopic approach under microscopic control. Of 35 cases of paralysis treated during the last three years, we have had three cases after thyroid surgery, i.e. less than 10%.