Table 2.
The mechanism and severity of RLN injury and the outcome of VC mobility in 108 RLNs detected with injury.
| Severity of nerve injury | Case number | Mechanism of nerve injury and injury site | VC mobility | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traction injury (U/M/L) | Dissecting trauma (U/M/L) | Thermal injury (U/M/L) | Sym | Weak | Fixed | ||
| Incomplete LOS (RPDR >10%, <100%) |
94 | 73(73/0/0) | 19(2/6/11) | 2(0/1/1) | 80 | 4 | 10 |
| 11%-20% | 35 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 21%-30% | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 31%-40% | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 41%-50% | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 51%-60% | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 61%-70% | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 71%-80% | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 81%-90% | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 91%-93% | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Complete LOS | 14 | 7(4/0/0)+ | 4(1/2/1) | 3(3/0/0) | 0 | 0 | 14* |
| Total | 108 | 80 | 23 | 5 | 80 | 4 | 24 |
+type 1 complete LOS in 4 nerves with detectable injured point, type 2 complete LOS in 3 nerves without detectable injured point.
*temporary palsy in 12 nerves, permanent palsy in 2 nerve with thermal injury.
U/M/L, upper/middle/lower portion of the exposed RLN.
RLN, recurrent laryngeal nerve; VC, vocal cord; RPDR, R2p/R2d ratio reduction; LOS, loss of signal; sym, symmetric.