ArticleDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2020
Anatomical Variations of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Implications for Injury Prevention during Surgical Procedures of the Neck.
Article in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Surgical anatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: a systematic review and meta-analysis of variants.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Anatomical variations of recurrent laryngeal nerve: a systematic review and meta-analyses.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2024Pooled it
- Clinical and Surgical Implications of Crossed Fusion Renal Ectopia Type E: A Case Report.Cureus · 2026Article
- A new approach to the lower cervical-thoracic spine with dislocation of the sterno-clavicular joint: FAMA (Fast Anterior Medium Approach).International orthopaedics · 2026Article
- Anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and postoperative outcomes in thyroid surgeries conducted at a teaching hospital in Ethiopia.Scientific reports · 2025Observational
- Preventing Laryngeal Nerve Palsy During Thyroidectomies: A Non-systematic Review of the Surgical Anatomy Literature.Cureus · 2025Review
- Incidence of Hoarseness After General Spine Surgery: Interim Report of Prospective Observational Study.Neurospine · 2025Article
- Review
- Construction and validation of nomograms to predict central lymph node metastasis in clinical node-negative unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Article
- The relation of recurrent laryngeal nerve to inferior thyroid artery and extralaryngeal nerve branching may increase the risk of vocal cord paralysis in thyroidectomy.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2024Article
- Facial nerve monitoring in parotid gland surgery: Design and feasibility assessment of a potential standardized technique.World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery · 2023Article
- Study on the Influencing Factors of Short-Term Recovery of Neurological Symptoms after Carotid Body Tumor Resection.World journal of surgery · 2023Article
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Variants and Their Implication in Surgery and Neck Pathologies, Using the Anatomical Quality Assurance (AQUA) Checklist.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- The use of Zuckerkandl's tubercle as an anatomical landmark in identifying recurrent laryngeal nerve and superior parathyroid gland during total thyroidectomy: a prospective single-surgeon study.Frontiers in surgery · 2023Article
- Anatomical Variation and Clinical Diagnosis.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- The Most Common Anatomical Variation of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve: Extralaryngeal Branching.Sisli Etfal Hastanesi tip bulteni · 2021Article
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3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Accurate knowledge of anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) provides information to prevent inadvertent intraoperative injury and ultimately guide best clinical and surgical practices. The present study aims to assess the potential anatomical variability of RLN pertaining to its course, branching pattern, and relationship to the inferior thyroid artery, which makes it vulnerable during surgical procedures of the neck. Fifty-five formalin-fixed cadavers were carefully dissected and examined, with the course of the RLN carefully evaluated and documented bilaterally. Our findings indicate that extra-laryngeal branches coming off the RLN on both the right and left side innervate the esophagus, trachea, and mainly intrinsic laryngeal muscles. On the right side, 89.1% of the cadavers demonstrated 2-5 extra-laryngeal branches. On the left, 74.6% of the cadavers demonstrated 2-3 extra-laryngeal branches. In relation to the inferior thyroid artery (ITA), 67.9% of right RLNs were located anteriorly, while 32.1% were located posteriorly. On the other hand, 32.1% of left RLNs were anterior to the ITA, while 67.9% were related posteriorly. On both sides, 3-5% of RLN crossed in between the branches of the ITA. Anatomical consideration of the variations in the course, branching pattern, and relationship of the RLNs is essential to minimize complications associated with surgical procedures of the neck, especially thyroidectomy and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. The information gained in this study emphasizes the need to preferentially utilize left-sided approaches for ACDF surgery whenever possible.
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