First laryngeal reinnervation surgery performed in the East Midlands

A new procedure to restore a paralysed vocal cord has been delivered jointly by doctors at two NHS hospitals.

Surgeons at both the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN) and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), worked together to successfully perform the first laryngeal reinnervation surgery in the East Midlands, bringing a pioneering treatment closer to home for patients across the region.

The procedure took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) and marks the introduction of a new specialist regional service. It will allow suitable patients across the East Midlands to access this highly specialised treatment closer to home, reducing the need to travel to established services elsewhere in the country.

Laryngeal reinnervation is a procedure that restores nerve supply and muscle tone to a paralysed vocal cord (also known as a vocal fold).

During the operation surgeons connect a healthy nerve in the neck to the damaged laryngeal nerve, which controls movement of the voice box. The procedure is often used to treat patients with vocal cord paralysis caused by previous surgery, trauma or viral infections.

The first patient to benefit from the new service was 14-year-old Charlotte Gray, from Higham Ferrers, who was born at 26 weeks and underwent heart surgery shortly after birth for a congenital heart condition.

One of the recognised risks of some cardiothoracic procedures is damage to the nerve supplying the vocal cords. Over time, Charlotte experienced increasing difficulties with her voice and, in 2025, began asking questions about why it sounded quiet and husky.

After being referred by her GP, Charlotte attended an appointment with the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) team at Kettering General Hospital, where examination showed that her left vocal cord was not moving normally.

She was diagnosed with left vocal cord palsy, likely caused by damage to the nerve during her life-saving surgery as a baby.

The operation to fix her damaged vocal cord was carried out jointly by Mr Rohan Bidaye, Consultant ENT Surgeon at Kettering General Hospital, and Professor Bindy Sahota, Consultant Head and Neck and Robotic Surgeon at UHL, with specialist support from Mr Yakubu Karagama, an experienced laryngeal reinnervation surgeon at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Charlotte's mum, Lyn, said: "Charlotte's self-esteem will be greatly improved by this surgery. Problems with her voice were limiting what she could do in relation to one of her biggest passions, performing on stage, because she struggled to project her voice and be heard by audiences.

"Once she has fully recovered, we hope this surgery will allow her to be heard more clearly, increasing both her enjoyment and confidence when performing. It will also make everyday conversations easier, as family and friends have often struggled to hear her speaking.

"We are so grateful to everyone involved for giving Charlotte this opportunity. It means a great deal to her and to us. We particularly appreciated how the team spoke directly to Charlotte throughout her stay and respected her individual needs."

Charlotte added: "It feels weird but very cool to know that I'm the first person in the East Midlands to have this procedure."

The new nerve connection develops gradually after laryngeal reinnervation and patients typically begin to see the benefits several months after surgery. An important part of the patient's care is ongoing support from specialist speech and language therapists, who work with patients throughout their recovery and rehabilitation.

Mr Rohan Bidaye, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Laryngologist at University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, said: "This is an important milestone for both organisations and, most importantly, for patients across the East Midlands. Laryngeal reinnervation is a highly specialised procedure that has the potential to make a life-changing difference for people living with vocal cord paralysis.

"Until now, patients would often have needed to travel outside the region to access this treatment. By establishing the service locally, we can ensure more patients benefit from timely access to specialist care closer to home."

Professor Bindy Sahota, Consultant Head and Neck and Robotic Surgeon at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, added: "We know that vocal cord paralysis can have a significant impact on a person's confidence, communication and quality of life. Being able to offer laryngeal reinnervation here in Leicester gives patients whose daily lives are affected by these symptoms another treatment option.

"This achievement reflects the strength of collaboration between UHL, UHN and our colleagues at Guy's and St Thomas'. We are delighted to introduce this service in the East Midlands and look forward to helping more patients benefit from it in the future."

Laryngeal reinnervation is currently available through only a small number of specialist services in the UK. The introduction of the East Midlands service demonstrates how collaboration between specialist NHS teams can bring innovative treatment closer to patients while maintaining experienced multidisciplinary care.