Prospective anatomical study to determine the site of insertion of recurrent laryngeal nerve into the larynx Journal Article


Authors: Wu, J. X.; Hanson, M.; Lohia, S.; Li, H.; Wang, L.; Shaha, A. R.; Ganly, I.
Article Title: Prospective anatomical study to determine the site of insertion of recurrent laryngeal nerve into the larynx
Abstract: Objectives: Determine whether the insertion site of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) occurs at a predictable distance from the midline trachea, to help guide safe dissection during thyroid surgery. Design: Prospective clinical trial. At the inferior edge of the cricoid cartilage, we measured the distance from mildline trachea to the RLN insertion site. Setting: Single institution. Participants: 50 consecutive patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Main outcome measures: Distance from midline trachea to laryngeal insertion of RLN. Results: The study population included 36 women and 14 men, with 72 total nerves measured. The average distance-to-midline + standard deviation (range) of the RLN was 20.7 + 2.3 (17-26) mm in women compared to 26.3 + 2.1 (22-32) mm in men. Conclusion: The insertion point of the RLN into the larynx at the level of inferior border of the cricoid cartilage can be reliably predicted, to facilitate early identification of the RLN during thyroid surgery. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Keywords: adult; clinical article; controlled study; outcome assessment; prospective study; recurrent laryngeal nerve; thyroid surgery; trachea; human; male; female; article; cricoid cartilage
Journal Title: Clinical Otolaryngology
Volume: 45
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1749-4478
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing  
Date Published: 2020-11-01
Start Page: 853
End Page: 856
Language: English
DOI: 10.1111/coa.13599
PUBMED: 32578395
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8370095
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 November 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Ashok R Shaha
    698 Shaha
  2. Ian Ganly
    431 Ganly
  3. Laura Wang
    42 Wang
  4. James Wu
    8 Wu
  5. Martin Hanson
    9 Hanson
  6. Shivangi Lohia
    15 Lohia
  7. Hao Li
    6 Li