Abstract
Abstract Recurrent laryngeal nerve identification is an essential step in thyroid surgery for preserving the patients’ voice and thus their quality of life. Methods of dissection and identification are adopted according to the surgeon’s preference. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the efficacy of recurrent laryngeal nerve identification using the Zuckerkandl tubercle as an anatomical landmark in comparison with the usual inferosuperior dissection of the tracheoesophageal groove. Four-hundred patients undergoing thyroidectomy were enrolled in a prospective comparative study. They were divided into two equal groups, each group being subjected to a specific technique. There was a nonsignificant statistical difference between the two techniques, thus validating the efficacy of Zuckerkandl tubercle as an anatomical landmark for identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Ib.
Highlights
Recurrent laryngeal nerve identification is an essential step in thyroid surgery for preserving the patients’ voice and their quality of life
Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), superior laryngeal nerve, or the parathyroid glands may result in profound lifelong consequences for the patients [1]
Sheahan and Murphy [9] reported that Zuckerkandl tubercle (ZT) is a critical anatomical landmark in thyroid surgery, being present in most of the thyroid lobes, especially in the larger ones
Summary
Recurrent laryngeal nerve identification is an essential step in thyroid surgery for preserving the patients’ voice and their quality of life. In-depth knowledge of the anatomical relations and variations in the thyroid and parathyroid glands, as well as of the vascular supply and laryngeal nerves, is the cornerstone of safe thyroid or parathyroid surgeries [1]. The surgical anatomy of the RLN has been clarified but the nerve anatomical variations could lead to difficulty during surgery [5]. Different surgical landmarks have been proposed for locating the RLN, but none of them are universally accepted. These include Simone’s triangle, its relation with the inferior thyroid artery, and its relation with the inferior pole of the thyroid gland. Traction maneuvers or intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring have been proposed as a means of avoiding RLN injury [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
