Risk of injury to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in thyroidectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To establish in the Mexican population with thyroid disease the risk of injury to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) based on its anatomical position.


METHODS
Non-randomized comparative clinical trial.


METHODS
Seventy-three patients subjected to thyroidectomy because of thyroid nodule in which the EBSLN was identified and classified. The dependent variable was Cernea's classification of the EBSLN, and the independent variables were weight (in grams) of the nodule, side studied, gender, and age. For statistical analysis, chi2 test, Fisher's Exact test, and analysis of multiple variables (analysis of variance) were used.


RESULTS
We studied 73 patients; 64 (87.62%) were women and 9 (12.38%) were men (average age, 39.3 years [age range, 17-73 y]; median age, 40 y; mode, 40 y; SD +/- 23.4 y). Regarding location of the EBSLN, for pathological lobes, 78.1% were located in a high-risk position and for nonpathological lobes, 72.7%. Comparative analysis between sides and relation between weight and classification revealed no statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of high-risk position for EBSLN lesion in our milieu was higher than that reported in series from other countries and races.
Hurtado-Lopez
Luis Mauricio
LM
Thyroid Clinic, General Surgery Department, Hospital General de México, Mexico City. luismauriciohurtado@terra.com.mx
Zaldivar-Ramírez
Felipe Rafael
FR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061224:Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D008297:Male; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy