The surgical management of unilateral and bilateral vocal cord paralysis depends on the severity of the condition, the potential for spontaneous recovery, the patient's age and vocal expectations. Standardized re-innervation surgeries, unilateral non-selective and bilateral selective, are viable alternatives to static procedures currently under evaluation in prospective studies. Neurorraphy of the ansa cervicalis loop to the recurrent laryngeal nerve allows lasting vocal recovery and potentially superior results to medialization and thyroplasty, by maintaining the visco-elastic properties of the vocal cord and preventing its atrophy. Selective bilateral reinnervation shows potential for recovery of inspiratory abduction with improved respiratory function without vocal deterioration.