Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury during thyroid surgery

Abstract EN

Iatrogenic injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) which frequently leads to vocal cord paresis or paralysis is one of the main problems in thyroid surgery.

The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy varies between 1.5-14%.

A total of 100 patients were included in this retrospective study.

All patient underwent thyroidectomy at Al Fayhaa General Hospital from 1st April 2003 to 1st April 2004.

Transient unilateral vocal cord paralysis occurred in 7 (4.06%) While permanent paralysis was found in only one patient (0.58%).

There was significant increases in the incidence of transient RLN injury in total and near total thyroid lobectomy.

There were no significant increases in the incidence of permanent RLN injury in malignant tumors .