Clinical Significance on Exposure of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Surgery Avoiding Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury

Objective To explore the clinical significance of exposure the recurrent laryngeal nerve(RLN)for preventing the RLN injury in thyroidectomy.Methods The data of 1 723 patients with thyroid diseases undergoing total or subtotal thyroidectomy from September 2006 to August 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.RLN were exposed in 914 cases,1 203 RLNs were exposed(exposed group).RLN were unexposed in 809 cases,1 013 sides were cut(unexposed group).To compare RLN injury rate after operation and recovery of vocal cord in 6 months after operation between the two groups.Results In exposed group,11 cases had RLN injury,the rate of RLN lesion was 0.91%.In unexposed group,21 cases had RLN injury,the rate of RLN lesion was 2.07%.The differences between the two groups had statistical significance(P 0.05).When six months after operation,0 case and 13 cases in exposed group and unexposed group respectively occurred permanent RLN injury,the differences between the two groups had statistical significance(P0.01).Conclusion Exposure of RLN in total and subtotal thyroidectomy can significant avoid RLN injury,especially RLN permanent injury.