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Anatomical Steps of Thyroidectomy

1. Skin Incision
An incision is made in the skin two finger breadths above the sternal notch between the medial borders of the
sternocleidomastoid muscles (two muscles make a V shape in front of the neck). The width of the incision may need
to be extended for large masses, or for a lateral lymph node removal.

The dotted lines represent the medial borders of the sternocleidomastoid


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2. Subplatysmal Flaps
Subcutaneous fat and Platysma (triangle sheet of muscle at both sides of the neck) are divided, and a
subplatysmal dissection is made above the incision up to the level of the thyroid cartilage above, and the sternal
notch, but remaining superficial to the anterior jugular veins.

Subplatysma flap elevated

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AJV (anterior jugular vein)

3. Separating the Strap Muscles and Exposing the Anterior Surface of the Thyroid
The fascia between the sternohyoid, omohyoid and sternothyroid muscles (strap muscles ) is divided along the
midline and the muscles retracted laterally. This is an avascular plane but care must be taken not to injure small
veins crossing between the anterior jugular veins.

Strap muscles retracted laterally, fascia white tissue between them.


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4. Identify the Middle Thyroid Vein.
The thyroid gland is rotated medially (using the surgeons fingers). The important vascular structure to identify
is the middle thyroid vein (it will be tightly stretched by the medial rotation of the gland), which is then ligated. This
permits further mobilisation of the gland and moving the bulk of the lobe out the wound.

Medial rotation of the right thyroid lobe to expose

the middle thyroid vein

Identifying the middle thyroid vein(above the

tip of the forces)

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5. Identify the Superior Laryngeal Artery and the External Laryngeal Nerve.
Identify the superior laryngeal artery as close to the superior pole of the thyroid parenchyma as possible. Great
care should be taken while ligating the superior laryngeal artery so as to avoid injury to the external laryngeal nerve.
In some patients the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve lies on the anterior surface of the thyroid lobe.

SLN Ext branch (Superior Laryngeal Nerve External Branch) STA (Superior Thyroid Artery)
STVs (Superior Thyroid Veins)

6. Identifying Superior Parathyroid Gland.

The superior parathyroid gland is normally located in a posterior position, at the level of the upper two thirds of
the thyroid and approximately 1 cm above the crossing point of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroid
artery. It is orange yellow in colour, but is difficult to identify. The gland must remain in situ with blood supply


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7. Identifying The Inferior Parathyroid Gland
The inferior parathyroid glands are normally located between the lower pole of the thyroid and the isthmus,
most commonly on the anterior or the posterolateral surface of the lower pole of the thyroid. Care must be taken to
preserve it in situ and to avoid damaging its inferior thyroid artery.

RLN (Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve) PT (Parathyroid Gland)


8. Identifying The Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve.

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is located between the common carotid artery laterally, the oesophagus medially,
and the inferior thyroid artery superiorly.

RLN (Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve) ITA (Inferior Thyroid Artery)


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Click for injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve

9. Dividing The Thyroid Isthmus.

When doing a thyroid lobectomy, the isthmus, which is crossing between the two thyroid lobes, is divided.

Dividing the thyroid isthmus


10. Removing The Thyroid Gland.

The image shows the incision and the removed thyroid gland

Thyroidectomy Scar

Thyroidectomy scar after 6months.