Which nerves should be monitored during thyroid surgery to prevent injury?

Monitoring the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves during thyroid surgery is crucial to prevent potential injury because these nerves play a significant role in controlling the muscles of the larynx, which are vital for voice production and airway protection. Injury to these nerves can result in vocal cord paralysis, leading to hoarseness, loss of voice, or complications with breathing.

During thyroid surgery, the anatomical proximity of the recurrent laryngeal nerves to the thyroid gland makes them susceptible to damage. Surgeons are trained to identify and protect these nerves throughout the procedure. Understanding the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerves—how they ascend around the aorta on the left side and the subclavian artery on the right—helps in their preservation.

The other nerves listed are not typically at risk during thyroid surgery. The median and ulnar nerves are more related to the arm's function, while the vagus nerve supplies various structures in the neck and thorax, and the trochlear nerve is involved with eye movement. The optic nerve is primarily responsible for vision, and the accessory nerve is associated with neck and shoulder movement; thus, they do not have the same relevance in the context of thyroid surgery as the recurrent laryngeal nerves do