The difference between recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and superior laryngeal nerve injury
Feb 26, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Gang
Introduction
Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is caused by bleeding from small blood vessels on the surface of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Superior laryngeal nerve injury results from damage to the superior laryngeal nerve. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury may lead to hoarseness and similar symptoms, while superior laryngeal nerve injury may cause frequent throat clearing, coughing, and related issues. Treatment for recurrent laryngeal nerve injury may include medications such as mecobalamin tablets as directed by a physician, or tracheotomy. For superior laryngeal nerve injury, voice therapy or thyroplasty as prescribed by a doctor may be recommended.
The differences between recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and superior laryngeal nerve injury generally include different causes, different symptoms, and different treatments.
1. Different Causes
Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is usually caused by thyroid surgery or neck trauma, leading to rupture and bleeding of small blood vessels on the surface of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Superior laryngeal nerve injury may result from anterior cervical spine surgery or direct neck trauma damaging the superior laryngeal nerve.
2. Different Symptoms
Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury typically presents with hoarseness, coughing while drinking, difficulty breathing, or even suffocation. Superior laryngeal nerve injury commonly manifests as inability to produce high-pitched sounds, low and coarse voice during speech, a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, frequent throat clearing, and in some patients, coughing and sputum production. Severe cases may lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
3. Different Treatments
For recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, treatment may include neurotrophic medications such as mecobalamin tablets, oryzanol tablets, and vitamin B1 tablets, as prescribed by a physician. If the injury is identified during surgery, suspicious sutures should be removed; if the nerve is severed, immediate repair with suturing is necessary. For postoperative cases, tracheotomy may be performed according to medical advice. For mild superior laryngeal nerve injury, voice therapy under medical guidance is recommended. In severe cases, surgical intervention such as cricothyroid muscle and thyroid cartilage suture procedure may be considered based on the doctor's recommendation.
