NONRECURRENT NERVE IN TYROIDECTOMY AND ITS CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: A CASE REPORT

Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, KBB Anabilim Dalı, Sivas, Türkiye An unusual but important cause of vocal cord paralysis is the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) during thyriodectomy. The anomalous position of NRLN predisposes the nerve to injury. In the present case, the recurrent laryngeal nerve has not been identified at the classical position. The dissection has been facilitated by the operating microscope in a transverse (horizontal) fashion across the neck and the NRLN has been find at the cricotyroid joint area in a more horizontal plane. Vocal cord paralysis has not been detected postoperatively. Keywords : thyroidectomy, nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve