Abstract
We evaluated the timing of complications following parotidectomy. We performed a 119-patient retrospective case series analysis over a 12-year period (1994–2006) and investigated timing of post-operative complications. 38% of temporary facial nerve palsies resolved within 1 month, 78% within 3 months and all recorded resolved within 7 months. Tumour recurrence, ranged from 5 months to 9 years post-surgery with a median of 5 years. Salivary fistula formation ranged from 3 to 45 days post-surgery with a median of 11.5 days. The development of Frey’s ranged from 20 days to 22 months, median 11 months. This information can better inform clinicians and those patients undergoing parotidectomy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Patey DH (1963) Risk of facial paralysis after parotidectomy. BMJ 5365:1100–1102
Harney M, Walsh P, Conlon B et al (2002) Parotid gland surgery: a retrospective review of 108 cases. J Laryngol Otol 116:285–287. doi:10.1258/0022215021910762
Reilly J, Myssiorek D (2003) Facial nerve stimulation and postparotidectomy facial paresis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 128:530–533. doi:10.1016/S0194-5998(03)00089-5
Kerawala CJ, McAloney N, Stassen LF (2002) Prospective randomized trial of the benefits of a sternocleidomastoid flap after superficial parotidectomy. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 40:468–472. doi:10.1016/S0266-4356(02)00194-8
Marshall AH, Quraishi SM, Bradley PJ (2003) Patients’ perspectives on the short- and long-term outcomes following surgery for benign parotid neoplasms. J Laryngol Otol 117:624–629. doi:10.1258/002221503768199960
Mehle ME, Kraus DH, Wood BG, Benninger MS, Eliachar I, Levine HL et al (1993) Facial nerve morbidity following parotid surgery for benign disease: the Cleveland Clinic Foundation experience. Laryngoscope 103:386–388. doi:10.1288/00005537-199301000-00005
Guntinas-Lichius O, Gabriel B, Klussmann JP (2006) Risk of facial palsy and severe Frey’s syndrome after conservative parotidectomy for benign disease: analysis of 610 operations. Acta Otolaryngol 126:1104–1109. doi:10.1080/00016480600672618
Dulguerov P, Quinodoz D, Cosendai G, Piletta P, Marchal F, Lehmann W (1999) Prevention of Frey syndrome during parotidectomy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 125:833–839
Casler JD, Conley J (1991) Sternocleidomastoid muscle transfer and superficial musculoaponeurotic system plication in the prevention of Frey’s syndrome. Laryngoscope 101:95–100. doi:10.1288/00005537-199105000-00024
Singleton GT, Cassisi NJ (1980) Frey’s syndrome: incidence related to skin flap thickness in parotidectomy. Laryngoscope 90:1636–1639. doi:10.1288/00005537-198010000-00008
Wallis KA, Gibson T (1978) Gustatory sweating following parotidectomy: correction by a fascia lata graft. Br J Plast Surg 31:68–71. doi:10.1016/0007-1226(78)90020-6
Nosan DK, Ochi JW, Davidson TM (1991) Preservation of facial contour during parotidectomy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 104:293–298
Rubinstein RY, Rosen A, Leeman D (1999) Frey syndrome: treatment with temporoparietal fascia flap interposition. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 125:808–811
Asal K, Koybasioglu A, Inal E, Ural A, Uslu SS, Ceylan A et al (2005) Sternocleidomastoid muscle flap reconstruction during parotidectomy to prevent Frey’s syndrome and facial contour deformity. Ear Nose Throat J 84:173–176
de Ru JA, van Benthem PP, Hordijk GJ (2006) Morbidity of parotid gland surgery: results 1 year post-operative. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 263:582–585. doi:10.1007/s00405-006-0016-z
O’Brien CJ (2003) Current management of benign parotid tumors—the role of limited superficial parotidectomy. Head Neck 25:946–952. doi:10.1002/hed.10312
Wax M, Tarshis L (1991) Post-parotidectomy fistula. J Otolaryngol 20:10–13
Cavanaugh K, Park A (1999) Postparotidectomy fistula: a different treatment for an old problem. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 47:265–268. doi:10.1016/S0165-5876(98)00182-7
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Hugh Cable and Richard Bickerton for contributing through allowing their results to be evaluated.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Henney, S.E., Brown, R. & Phillips, D.E. Parotidectomy: the timing of post-operative complications. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 267, 131–135 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-0980-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-0980-1