ArticleInternational journal of spine surgery2021
Correlation of Voice Hoarseness and Vocal Cord Palsy: A Prospective Assessment of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.
Article in International journal of spine surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparison of skip-level ACDF vs. contiguous ACDF in the treatment of skip-level cervical degenerative disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Diagnosis and treatment of postoperative voice complications following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a systematic review.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Pooled it
- Comparison of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion utilizing zero-profile self-locking cages versus the cage-with-plate system: a 5-year-minimum follow-up study.Asian spine journal · 2026Article
- Contralateral Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy in Primary Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion: A Case Report.Cureus · 2025Article
- A systematic review of risk factors and adverse outcomes associated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery over the past decade.Journal of craniovertebral junction & spineReview
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundInjury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has been implicated as a common complication following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine the true incidence of voice hoarseness and RLN palsy following ACDF surgery, to determine the reliability of symptoms in the diagnosis of RLN injury, and to evaluate factors related to the development of these symptoms.
methodsAll patients undergoing elective (primary or secondary) ACDF surgery at a single institution consented to and enrolled in the present study. All approaches were through the left side. Enrolled patients received both preoperative and postoperative (within 1 month following surgery) laryngoscopy by a fellowship-trained ENT physician for evaluation of RLN function. Patients also responded as to whether they were experiencing postoperative symptoms of dysphagia, aspiration, and voice changes.
resultsIn total, 108 patients were included in this study. Mean age of the population was 59.2 ± 10.7 years and mean body mass index was 31.2 ± 7.1 kg/m
conclusionsFrom the results of this prospective study, the RLN remained functional even a month after surgery despite several cases of postoperative dysphagia, aspiration, and voice changes. Endotracheal cuff pressure, number of vertebral levels, body mass index, and intubation time were important variables related to postoperative symptoms. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Voice hoarseness does not necessarily indicate recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after ACDF but may be caused by compressive forces on laryngeal tissue during retraction or intubation. Laryngoscopy should be performed in cases with high clinical suspicion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.
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