[Incidence of recurrent nerve palsy after strumectomy. Long term results (author's transl)]

During the last years all 1713 patients which for different causes underwent strumectomy were controlled by the laryngologist before and after the operation. In 147 cases an unilateral recurrent nerve palsy resulted, in 22 patients both vocal cords were paralysed. Out of these 169 patients we could follow up 63 patients, which were examined after one year. In 28 patients with postoperatively complete paresis of one vocal cord 23 showed recovery and normal function while in two patients a markedly reduced motility was present. Out of the 22 cases which postoperatively had both recurrent nerves injured 10 could be checked one year later. In three patients any vocal cord movement was still absent, in three patients one vocal cord showed normal function again and only in one case both vocal cords revealed normal physiological mobility. Three other patients demonstrated a reduced but market mobility of one vocal cord. The results are discussed in relation to the clinical and histological datas.