Restoration of physiologic vocal fold abduction with the ansa cervicalis nerve.

An attempt was made to restore physiologic abduction of the vocal fold using the ansa cervicalis nerve. In adult dogs, the ansa cervicalis nerve was anastomosed to the abductor branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In the four surviving dogs, abduction of approximately 50% to 70% of normal was restored synchronous with inspiration. This technique seems to work almost as well as the phrenic nerve and is easier to perform.