Objective:To analyze the complications,recurrence and vicarious therapeutic dosage of total thyroidectomy(TT) and sub-total thyroidectomy(STT),and to explore the clinical value of total thyroidectomy in the treatment for patients with benign thyroid diseases. Methods:Totally 86 patients with bilateral multiple nodular goiter in our department from May 2009 to May 2010 were ana-lyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A(48 patients underwent bilateral STT) and group B(38 patients underwent bilateral TT). Results:All 86 patients were diagnosed as benign thyroid diseases by pathologic examination. Three patients in group A and 2 in group B experienced temporary postoperative laryngeal nerve injury(P >0.05). Two patients in group A and 2 patients in group B had temporary postoperative hypoparathyreosis(P >0.05). The operation time was (96.85±22.93) min in group A and (79.05±19.34) min in group B(P<0.05). The intraoperative blood loss was (110.33±29.98) ml in group A and (58.03±20.09) ml in group B(P<0.05). The vicarious therapeutic dosage was (131.77±39.19) μg/d in group A and (300.66±48.45) μg/d in group B(P<0.05). Eight patients in group A and no patient in group B suffered recurrence. No patient had permanent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyreosis. Conclusion:With the advantages of less intraoperative blood loss,shorter operation time,lower postoperative recurrence rate and complication rate,TT is superior to STT in the treatment of thyroid multi-nodular diseases,although higher vicarious therapeutic dosage is required for STT after the surgery.