To compare the therapeutic effects of microdissection tungsten needle and high-frequency electrosurgical generator on open thyroid surgery.

95 patients who underwent open thyroid surgery from Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2017 in the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Daping Hospital of Army Military Medical University were divided into microdissection tungsten needle group (n=50) and high-frequency electrosurgical generator group (n=45) according to different methods. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative complication rate and recurrence and metastasis rate of the two groups were compared.

There were no significant differences in operation time (79.3±14.7 vs 73.7±13.9, t=1.914, P=0.059) , intraoperative blood loss (31.8±9.7 vs 30.3±10.6, t=0.702, P=0.484) and postoperative drainage volume (67.3±13.0 vs 71.3±10.8, t=-1.650, P=0.102) between the two groups (P>0.05) . There were significant differences between the two groups in temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury (2% vs 17.8%,χ²=5.518, P=0.023) and temporary hypoparathyroidism (18% vs 44%,χ²=7.810, P=0.005) , and the results of the microdissection tungsten needle group were better than high-frequency electrosurgical generator group (P<0.05) . There were no permanent RLN and permanent hypoparathyroidism in the two groups. There were no recurrence and metastasis during the follow-up period.

The microdissection tungsten needle is superior to the high-frequency electrosurgical generator in the protection of RLN and parathyroid gland in open thyroid surgery, which is worthy of promotion in clinical application.

Microdissection tungsten needle; High-frequency electrosurgical generator; Open thyroid surgery; Recurrent laryngeal nerve; Parathyroid gland