Long-term prospective evaluation comparing robotic parathyroidectomy with minimally invasive open parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism

Background Targeted parathyroidectomy is a popular technique for localized pathology. No single technique is established as superior. The purpose of this study was to compare robotic‐assisted parathyroidectomy (RAP) with the most common approach. Methods This was a prospective, nonrandomized study. Fifteen consecutive patients who underwent RAP were compared to 15 matched controls undergoing focused lateral parathyroidectomy (FLP). Results Biochemical cure occurred in 29 of 30 patients (97%). No major complications occurred, although there was 1 robotic conversion. RAP demonstrated a significant time reduction (R2 = 0.436; p = .01) but took much longer to perform than FLP (119 minutes vs 34 minutes; p = .001). RAP was associated with less initial postoperative pain (p = .036) and higher satisfaction with scar cosmesis (p = .002) until 6 months. Quality of life (QOL) improved in both groups (p = .007). Conclusion RAP provides superior early cosmesis with equivalent global health improvement compared to FLP. The high cost and learning curve may preclude widespread adoption. Further evaluation is necessary to establish its clinical efficacy regarding scar cosmesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E300–E7, 2016