Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose and Voice Quality After Total Thyroidectomy

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether placement of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) over the recurrent laryngeal nerves during total thyroidectomy affects early postoperative voice quality. Patients undergoing bilateral total thyroidectomy for benign or malignant thyroid disease were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to bilateral placement of ORC within the thyroid bed or to conventional hemostasis without ORC. All participants underwent preoperative videolaryngostroboscopic examination and objective acoustic voice analysis. Acoustic assessment was repeated on postoperative day 21. The study evaluated changes in jitter, shimmer, normalized noise energy, harmonics-to-noise ratio, maximum phonation time, and the s/z ratio. Postoperative complications and adverse events potentially related to ORC were also recorded.