title: The Efficacy of Intraoperative Single Dose Methylprednisolone on Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Function After Thyroidectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary endpoint is to determine whether intraoperative steroid affect post-thyroidectomy recurrent laryngeal palsy or not Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy is an important complication of thyroid surgery. Injuries can either be permanent or temporary. Prevention or shortening the recovery period of temporary palsies is an area of interest. Some surgeons prefer to use corticosteroids for this purpose as is used for facial nerve palsies although there are conflicting data in the literature. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of perioperative single dose methylprednisolone on RLN function.
  
  
  METHODS
  438 nerves under risk in 237 surgeries are investigated in two groups. Group 1, patients are administered a single intraoperative dose of methylprednisolone (1mg/kg) intravenously for 220 nerves under risk. 218 nerves under risk in Group 2 were operated and followed without methylprednisolone. The demographic data of the patients, operation time, the final pathology reports, incidence of RLNP and recovery time are documented and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference was determined in terms of age, sex distribution, number of nerves under risk and the operation time between groups. There were 3 unilateral RLNP in each group and the mean recovery time for Group 1 and 2 palsies were 20.4 and 19.8 days respectively, without statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented data indicates that a single intraoperative dose of steroid does not seem to effect the rate and recovery period of RLNP in thyroid surgery.
authors.affiliation: 1 Bulent Ecevit University Hospital, 67600 Kozlu Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emre
authors.affiliation: 1 Bulent Ecevit University Hospital, 67600 Kozlu Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Guldeniz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karadeniz Cakmak
authors.affiliation: 1 Bulent Ecevit University Hospital, 67600 Kozlu Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karakaya Arpaci
authors.affiliation: 1 Bulent Ecevit University Hospital, 67600 Kozlu Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uygun Ilikhan
authors.affiliation: 1 Bulent Ecevit University Hospital, 67600 Kozlu Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damar
keywords: Thyroidectomy, Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries, Methylprednisolone