Objective To explore anatomical features and variation of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve and to summarize identification method, operation skill, and damage treatment experience of it. Method The clinical data of 15 patients with non-recurrent laryngeal nerve in 4 054 patients who underwent thyroidectomy from our division by the same medical group from January 2006 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 6 626 recurrent laryngeal nerve (left side 3 248, right side 3 378) were exposed in 4 054 cases. Fifteen patients with non-recurrent laryngeal nerve were detected with an incidence of 0.23% (15/6 626), all located on the right side. There were 3 males and 12 females. There were 3 cases of type Ⅰ, 10 cases of type Ⅱa, 2 cases of type Ⅱb. And 2 patients with non-recurrent laryngeal nerve were injured. Conclusions Incidence of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve is lower, most of which occur on right side of neck, there is a high injury rate for its special anatomical location. It’s key to prevent nerve injury for careful interpreting preoperative auxiliary examination results and improving awareness of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, fining dissection, conventional exposuring recurrent laryngeal nerve, and accurate using nerve monitor during operation.