【Abstract】Objective To investigate the safety and clinical significance of total thyroidectomy performed for benign thyroid disease. Methods Eighty-eight patients with benign thyroid disease were treated with total thyroidectomy. The postoperative complications were analyzed. Results With primary total thyroidectomy, the incidences of transient hypocalcemia and transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. The incidences after reoperation were 28.6%（P＜0.05）and 28.6%（P＜0.01）respectively. No patients had permanent hypoparathyroidism and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Conclusion Total thyroidectomy can be performed safely. It can avoid reoperation for the recurrence caused by the remainder thyroid.