ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the measures to prevent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN)injury during thyroid surgery.Methods The clinical data of 223 patients undergone thyroid surgery were retrospectively analyzed.Among the 223 surgeries,69 sides were undergone regional protection act of RLN and 191 sides were performed RLN exposure.Results There were 2 cases of RLN injury from the regional protection operation of RLN,including 1 case of temporary nerve injury which could be resulted from surgery clamp and 1 case of permanent nerve injury which might be caused by mistaking ligation during surgery.There was only 1 case of temporary nerve injury in RLN exposure procedure which was probably caused by the postoperative nerve edema and was recovered 2 months after the operation.The total RLN injury rate was 1.35％.Conclusion For benign thyroid lesions and non-dorsal lesions or during partial excision of the gland,the regional protection of RLN is helpful to prevent RLN injury.In cases with dorsal lesions of thyroid or contralateral RLN injury,or during lobe subtotal resection,lobe resection and reoperation,exposing RLN to prevent injury is necessary.Taking different approaches based on the profiles of lesions and surgical procedures to prevent RLN injury can significantly reduce the risk of RLN injury.