[Postoperative recurrent nerve paralysis after initial interventions for benign goiter]

Between January 1st, 1979 and December 31st 1993, 2501 operations for benign diseases of the thyroid gland were performed. The documentation was done prospectively. The operation technique remained the same during these years. The recurrent laryngeal nerve wasn't routinely identified. All together we saw 0.6% permanent vocal cord palsies. The incidence of nerve paralysis was correlated to the size (weight), to the expansion of the goiter, to the performed operative procedure and to patients' age and gender.