Other causes include local trauma, compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve from intubation, or in some cases, laryngopharngeal reflux.

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The recurrent laryngeal nerve also runs in close proximity to the thyroid gland.

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Hoarseness, due to vocal cord paralysis after thyroid surgery, may be potentially related to injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

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They tracked two permanent complications that can occur if the surgeries aren't expertly performed (recurrent layrygeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism, which occur in 2% to 3% of the cases).

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Common causes of vocal cord paralysis include viral infections, along with tumors or cancers that can compress the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve (which provides specific innervation to the heart as well as other vital internal organs).

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