Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
Published on: December 1, 2023
Factors Associated with Hypoparathyroidism and Vocal Cord Paralysis Following Thyroid Surgery: A Multicenter
Carmen Kirchner1, Sarah Krieg2, Matthias Schott3
1Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Thoracic Surgery and Proctology, University Hospital Herford, Medical Campus OWL, Ruhr University Bochum, Herford, Germany.
Abstract:
Postoperative hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord paralysis remain common complications following thyroid surgery. Sex and metabolic comorbidities may influence their occurrence. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional analysis using anonymized data from 3,365 patients (1,517 hemithyroidectomies and 1,848 thyroidectomies) treated at 27 German hospitals between 2019 and 2024. Primary outcomes were postprocedural hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord paralysis, identified via ICD-10 codes. Associations with age, sex, obesity, diabetes, thyroid pathology, and surgical extent were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Postoperative hypoparathyroidism was more frequent after thyroidectomy (3.6%) than hemithyroidectomy (0.3%). Female sex was positively associated with postoperative hypoparathyroidism (odds ratio: 2.30; 95% confidence interval: 1.11-4.77), while obesity was inversely associated with postoperative hypoparathyroidism (odds ratio: 0.15; 95% confidence interval: 0.04-0.63). Vocal cord paralysis was observed in 1.7% of hemithyroidectomy and 1.0% of thyroidectomy cases. Factors significantly or tendentially associated with vocal cord paralysis included malignant neoplasm (odds ratio: 4.00; 95% confidence interval: 1.37-11.64), diffuse goiter (odds ratio: 4.94; 95 % confidence interval: 0.86-28.37), parathyroidectomy (odds ratio: 3.47; 95% confidence: 1.04-11.59), and diabetes mellitus (odds ratio: 3.09; 95% confidence: 0.98-9.74). Individual risk profiling and intraoperative neuromonitoring are critical to improving outcomes after thyroid surgery.
More Related Videos
11:46Investigation of the Electrophysiological and Thermographic Safety Parameters of Surgical Energy Devices During Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery in a Porcine Model
Published on: October 13, 2022
05:25Identification and Protection of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy
Published on: October 24, 2025
Related Concept Videos
The Parathyroid Glands
Oxyphil cells, whose functions remain elusive, emerge during late puberty, adding a layer of complexity to the parathyroid gland's intricacies. In contrast, principal parathyroid cells undertake a vital role by...
Larynx
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids,...
The Thyroid Gland
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...
Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Clinical Manifestations:
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding II: Palpation and Auscultation
Palpation Findings
During a respiratory assessment, palpation can reveal several vital abnormalities: