Anomalous relationship of coexisting ipsilateral recurren and nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerves during thyroid surgery

BABADEMEZ M. A., Günbey E., Ozmen E., Celik E.

Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, vol.24, no.2, 2013 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 24 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1097/scs.0b013e3182801edd
  • Journal Name: Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Keywords: Inferior laryngeal nerve, Nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve, Thyroidectomy
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

One of the most important complications of thyroid surgery is inferior laryngeal nerve injury. Variations of inferior la-ryngeal nerve may increase the risk of iatrogenic injury. Coexistence of ipsilateral nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve is a very rare variation, and sufficient data are not available on the anatomical and functional relationship of the 2 branches and probable clinical outcomes resulting from the injury of one of them. Herein, we present a case with coexistence of nonrecurrent laryn-geal nerve and ipsilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve and discuss the clinical importance of this rare variation. Copyright © 2013 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.