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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Identification and Protection of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy
Published on: October 24, 2025
The recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroid artery--anatomical variations during surgery
Ozer Makay1, Gokhan Icoz, Mustafa Yilmaz
1Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, 35100, Turkey. ozer.makay@ege.edu.tr
Background And Aims:
Recognition of variations of the inferior laryngeal nerve is essential. We aimed to investigate the relationship of the inferior laryngeal nerve with the inferior thyroid artery.
Materials And Methods:
A study was undertaken between August 2005 and August 2006. A total of 253 adult patients undergoing thyroid surgery were included in this prospective, non-randomized study. Both sides of the thyroid gland were considered separately.
Results:
Sixteen variations of the nerve were clarified. In the most observed variation, the nerve was deep to the artery. Two and three nervous branches were seen in 22.5% and 1.6% of the patients, respectively. Bifurcation of the nerve was mostly observed on the left side. No non-recurrent laryngeal nerve was found.
Conclusion:
To avoid the risk of nerve damage during thyroid surgery, a good knowledge of the variations of the inferior laryngeal nerve is essential. This is important to achieve an undisturbed quality of life for the thyroid patient.
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