ObjectiveTo evaluate whether strategic parathyroid autotransplantation can decrease the incidence of hypoparathyroidism after central lymph node re-dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodsData were retrospectively collected from the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, who had undergone unilateral or bilateral central lymph node re-dissection in the Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2009 and October 2015. The patients were divided into transplantation group and non-transplantation group according to the history of strategic parathyroid autotransplantation in the primary surgery. Data concerning patient demographics (age, sex, comorbidities, the leval of Ca2+ and parathyroid hormone, previous surgical manners and complications before reoperation), surgical manners of reoperation, and postoperative factors (laboratory examination and postoperative complications) were collected. ResultsA total of 74 patients, 35 in the transplantation group and 39 in the non-transplantation group, were included in the study. Significantly higher levels of Ca2+ and parathyroid hormone were observed in the transplantation group than in the non-transplantation group on one day after surgery (P < 0.05). Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury newly occurred in 2 patients in the transplantation group and 5 patients in the non-transplantation group, respectively (5.7% vs. 12.8%, P > 0.05). Transient hypoparathyroidism was documented in 4 patients in the transplantation group and in 12 patients in the non-transplantation group. Permanent hypoparathyroidism was documented in 1 patient in the transplantation group and in 4 patients in the non-transplantation group. The incidence of hypoparathyroidism was significantly lower in the transplantation group compared with the non-transplantation group (5 vs. 16, P < 0.05). The mean number of central lymph node identified pathologically was significantly more in the transplantation group (2.1±1.3 vs. 1.4±0.7, P < 0.05). ConclusionStrategic parathyroid autotransplantation can effectively decrease the incidence of hyperparathyroidism after central lymph node re-dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, which greatly improves the surgical safety and thoroughness.