Voice outcomes following robotic transoral, robotic retroauricular, and open hemithyroidectomy

Lim CC 1 , Sahimi HI 2 , Bin Abu Bakar MZ 3 , Kim SY 4 , Ji JY 1 , Cha W 1 Show all authors , Jeong WJ 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13620, Korea
  • 2 Clinical Research Department, National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 5 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13620, Korea. safar00@snu.ac.kr
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2026 Aug 31.
PMID: 42671599 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-026-10566-5

Abstract

PURPOSE: Considering the favourable prognosis of thyroid tumours, the importance of quality of life, including functional and voice outcomes, is critically important. The impact of remote-access thyroidectomy on postoperative voice function remains unclear, and direct comparative data across major approaches are limited. This study compared patient-reported and objective voice outcomes following robotic transoral (TO), robotic retroauricular (RA), and open hemithyroidectomy.

METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study included patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy between January 2022 and August 2025. Voice outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively using the Voice Handicap Index-10 and acoustic analysis. Between-group comparisons and multivariable general linear modelling were performed to identify factors associated with postoperative voice outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were analysed (RA: 58; TO: 37; open: 55). Baseline VHI-10 and acoustic parameters were comparable across groups. The RA group demonstrated significantly higher postoperative VHI-10 scores and greater VHI-10 change scores compared with TO and open approaches (p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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