Objective: This study analyses the incidence of subjectively experienced dysphagia and voice change in post-thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy patients without recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.
Methods: A total of 400 patients were invited to participate in a telephone questionnaire based on the Dysphagia Handicap Index and Voice Handicap Index. At 6-24 months following surgery, participants were divided into: post-thyroid surgery (total, hemi-, parathyroidectomy) groups and controls (other ENT procedures). A total of 254 responses were received (127 following thyroid surgery, 127 controls).
Results: Twenty-two per cent of post-thyroidectomy patients had a Voice Handicap Index score of more than 3, compared to 15 per cent of parathyroid patients and 4 per cent of controls. The mean Dysphagia Handicap Index score for patients post thyroidectomy and hemi-thyroidectomy was 2.0. Parathyroidectomy patients had a mean Dysphagia Handicap Index score of 1.3, higher than controls at 1.0.
Conclusion: Dysphagia and voice alteration are common following thyroid surgery, even in the absence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Both deficits occur more frequently following thyroid surgery than parathyroid surgery.
Keywords: Dysphagia; dysphonia; thyroid.