During thyroidectomy, injury to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve is most likely during which manoeuvre?
- A Ligating the middle thyroid vein
- B Ligating the superior thyroid artery close to the gland at its upper pole ✓
- C Dissecting the ligament of Berry near the cricoid cartilage
- D Dividing the inferior thyroid artery lateral to the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Correct answer: B. Ligating the superior thyroid artery close to the gland at its upper pole
Explanation
The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve runs with the superior thyroid artery and supplies cricothyroid muscle. It is injured when the superior pole vessels are ligated en masse away from the gland; the safe technique is to divide the artery branch by branch on the surface of the gland. Injury causes inability to reach high pitches, important in singers. The other structures listed relate to recurrent laryngeal nerve territory or venous drainage.
Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.