Hypoparathyroidism following thyroid surgery occurs within: (A) 24 hours, (B) 2-5 days, (C) 7-14 days, (D) 2-3 weeks
Answer is B. Parathyroid insufficiency is due to the removal of the parathyroid glands or infarction through damage to the parathyroid end aeries; often both factors occur together. Vascular injury is probably far more impoant than inadveent removal. The incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism should be less than 1% and most cases present dramatically 2-5 days after an operation but, very rarely, the onset is delayed for 2-3 weeks or a patient with marked hypocalcemia may be asymptomatic.Ref: Bailey and Love, page no: 815