OBJECTIVE MEASURES OF LARYNGEAL FUNCTION AFTER REINNERVATION OF THE ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE BRANCHES

Previous research indicates that separate reinnervation of the anterio r and posterior branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) can pr ovide purposeful motion of the larynx, even after transplantation. Thi s canine study was undertaken to better determine the results of RLN r einnervation after nerve transection distal to its bifurcation, This a pproximates ideal conditions for transplantation, because potential re jection and nerve branch mismatch are eliminated. Eight months after n erve repair, video, electromyographic, mechanical, and histologic data were collected on four canines, Results show return of appropriate mo tion without synkinesis, including purposeful abduction on endotrachea l tube occlusion, Abductory function was weaker on the reinnervated si de, but adduction was equal or stronger on the reinnervated vocal cord . These results indicate that this method of RLN reinnervation produce s consistent, strong physiologic motion in the denervated larynx.