Villarroya-Marquina I, et al. - In this prospective observational study, the researchers examine the time to recovery of the parathyroid function (RPF) in patients with protracted (> 1 month) hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. In patients requiring replacement therapy for more than 6 months, permanent hypoparathyroidism should not be diagnosed, particularly if the 4 parathyroid glands are preserved.