Comparing total thyroidectomy and subtotal thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disorders: A retrospective cohort study

Background. Total thyroidectomy (TT) and subtotal thyroidectomy (ST) are surgical options for treating benign thyroid conditions. This retrospective study aimed to compare the outcomes of TT and ST in patients with benign thyroid disorders. Patients and Methods. One hundred patients with benign thyroid disorders were included in this study; 50 underwent TT and another 50 underwent ST. Data were collected from medical records, including demographic characteristics, preoperative thyroid function tests, intraoperative findings, postoperative complications. Results. Patients who underwent TT had a mean age of 45.6 ± 8.2 years, while for those who underwent ST, it was 47.3 ± 7.5 years. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the two groups. Intraoperatively, the TT group had longer operative times than the ST group (125 ± 15 and 110 ± 12 min, respectively; p < 0.05). Postoperative complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism were higher in the TT group compared to the ST group (TT was 8 (16%), 3 (6%), and ST was 4 (8%)1 (2%) respectively, p < 0.05). Long-term follow-up revealed similar rates of disease recurrence and the need for reoperation between the two groups. Conclusion. TT and ST are effective surgical options for the management of benign thyroid disorders. However, TT is associated with longer operative times and a higher risk of postoperative complications, particularly hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, than ST. Therefore, the choice between TT and ST should be made based on individual patient factors, lower associated complications, and surgeon expertise.