The non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve: The clinical and surgical implication

Abstract

Objectives: We report two cases of a non-recurrent right inferior laryngeal nerve; per operative discovery during a thyroidectomy. Through these cases, we highlight the clinical and surgical implications by first analyzing the most appropriate technique. Results: The frequency of the recurrent non recurrent nerve was 1.3% with confidence interval between 0.2 and 4.6% in our center. We identified two patients who underwent a thyroidectomy, during which the discovery of the recurrent non-recurrent right nerve was made intraoperatively. The nerve approach was performed by the superior approach in front of a bulky and plunging goiter. The outcome was simple. Conclusion:The thyroid surgeon must keep in mind the probability of finding this nerve variation. For indirect signs, the superior approach would be the most suitable technique to avoid recurrent morbidity.