Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2009 Aug;52(8):683-687. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2009.52.8.683.

Nonrecurrent Inferior Laryngeal Nerve Related to Thyroid Surgery : Review of Ten Cases

• Mo JA
• Shim YS
• Lee GH
• Jung MS

• KMID: 2277085
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2009.52.8.683

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) is a rare anomaly of the recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (RILN), associated with abnormal development of the aortic arch that can be associated with an increased risk of vocal fold paralysis. This study will describe preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative findings.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
We describe 10 cases (0.53%) of the NRILN observed during 1890 surgical procedure between January 2006 and December 2008.
RESULTS
The NRILN was observed on the right side in all cases. Although the NRILN was preserved, immediately after the surgery, vocal fold paralysis was present in one patient who completely recovered one month later.
CONCLUSION
Injury due to RILN that results in vocal fold paralysis is one of the serious complications in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. If the RILN is not found in the classic position during surgery, this can be a possibility of the presence of the NRILN

Keyword

Recurrent laryngeal nerve; Thyroidectomy; Subclavian artery

MeSH Terms

Aorta, Thoracic
Humans
Paralysis
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Subclavian Artery
Thyroid Gland
Thyroidectomy
Vocal Cords