What Are the Treatments for Damaged Vocal Cords After Thyroid Surgery?
Thyroid surgery involves making an incision in the base of the neck in order to access the thyroid gland. Important anatomical structures in the neck that the surgeon should avoid include the trachea, the esophagus, the carotid artery, the jugular vein and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. According to the American Thyroid Association.org, the overall risk of complications is about 2 percent. Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve will cause vocal cord damage. Symptoms of vocal cord damage include hoarseness, breathy voice, soft voice and difficulty breathing. There are several treatment options for damaged vocal cords.
