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.

Keywords

• recurrent non-recurrent nerve
• thyroid
• superior approach