Avoidance of external laryngeal nerve injury during thyroidectomy

ABSTRACT

100 patients suffering from simple multinodular goitre [78 females and 22 males] with mean age of [32.8Y] were classified into two equal groups 50 patients each. In the first group the superior thyroid vessels were ligated as mass ligation with in the upper pole. In the second group, the superior thyroid vessels were ligated individually with identification of external laryngeal nerve whenever possible. The voice function was tested pre -and 3 months postoperatively in both groups. There was preservation of the voice function in the second group with some aspects of deterioration of voice function in the first group. So, individual ligation of superior thyroid vessels and identification of external laryngeal nerve if possible, is a good method for preservation of voice functions after thyroidectomy operations