Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) Practice Exam

What is a potential symptom of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury?

1. Difficulty swallowing

2. Stridor

3. Hoarse voice

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: Hoarse voice

A potential symptom of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a hoarse voice. This occurs because the recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, which are crucial for controlling the tension and position of the vocal cords. When this nerve is injured on one side, it can lead to vocal cord dysfunction, resulting in asymmetrical movement and ultimately producing a hoarse or breathy quality to the voice. Hoarseness is a direct result of insufficient closure of the vocal cords during phonation, which affects sound production. While difficulty swallowing and stridor are significant issues related to laryngeal function, they are more commonly associated with bilateral nerve injury or other laryngeal conditions rather than being a primary symptom of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Thus, hoarseness stands out as the correct answer in the context of this specific injury.