ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss how to identify the nerve and prevent the injury of the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. Methods The clinical data of 3078 patients undergoing thyroid resection were retrospectively analyzed. Results From January 1981 to December 2001,3078 thyroidectomy was performed at our department with the routine exploration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.4241 recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified,among them there were 12 nonrecurrent laryngeal nerves(0.28%,12/4241),ofwhich all were right-sided.One patient was male and 11 female.Of these 12 cases,there were 2 of type Ⅰ(16.67%,2/12),6 of type Ⅱ(50%,6/12)and 4 of type Ⅲ (33.33%,4/12).One ofthe type Ⅰ patients suffered from intraoperative injury of his nonreurrent laryngeal nerve.Conclusions The careful intraoperative identification of the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve helps prevent it from the inadvertent injury.