Thyroidectomy: Technique and applications

Thyroid surgery over the past century and a half has evolved from an operation associated with considerable mortality and morbidity to a generally safe operation with relatively few complications. However, the risk of vocal cord paralysis and hypocalcemia remains and can be quite devastating to patients experiencing these problems. An adequate knowledge of the anatomy and surgical techniques regarding thyroidectomy is paramount to successful outcomes in this patient population. In this article we review the pertinent anatomy and surgical techniques and discuss their application.