Home > Thyroid Gland > Goitre > Nodules > Thyroid Cancer > Thyroid Surgery > Risks
There are small but significant risks involved with thyroid surgery. In particular there is a small risk of damage to a nerve which runs very close to the thyroid gland as it passes to the larynx (voice box).
Damage to this nerve results in a change in voice which is usually temporary but can be permanent. This is extremely rare, and if it happened the voice can be improved by a small operation.
There is also a risk of damage to the parathyroid glands (four small glands which lie just behind the thyroid gland). This is not a significant risk with a hemithyroidectomy as there are 2 normal glands on the other side. With total thyroidectomy it is possible that the blood supply to these glands will be interrupted.
These glands help maintain calcium levels in the blood, and so calcium levels will be checked following surgery and temporary or permanent calcium replacement may be required.
There are other possible complications of thyroid surgery which will be discussed fully pre–operatively.
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