The surgical complications of thyroidectomy.

The surgical complications of thyroidectomy are relatively few but still need to be carefully considered before an operation is recommended. The major problems that lead to continuing morbidity are those of permanent hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. The incidence of both rises dramatically whenever a total thyroidectomy is performed, particularly when this is for a malignancy, or when the patient has undergone previous surgery to the thyroid or parathyroid glands. Other complications of thyroidectomy are relatively uncommon.