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Parotidectomy. Preserving the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

N. R. Christensen  and
S. D. Jacobsen
N. R. Christensen*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hillerød County Hospital, Denmark.
S. D. Jacobsen
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hillerød County Hospital, Denmark.
*
Address for correspondence: Niels Råberg Christensen, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gentofte University Hospital, Niels Andersens Vej 65, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark Fax: 45 3977 7634.
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Abstract

The great auricular nerve is often sacrificed in superficial parotidectomy, even though its posterior branch often can be preserved. By cautious dissection of the great auricular nerve it is possible to preserve the posterior branch in 70.5 per cent of the operations.

Ninety-five patients who had undergone superficial parotidectomy were included. A significantly higher number of patients had subjective sequelae if the posterior branch of the nerve had been cut, compared to the patients with a preserved nerve. A significantly higher rate of sensory morbidity was found if the nerve had been cut. In patients with a preserved posterior branch of the great auricular nerve there was no increase in other potential sequelae after parotidectomy.

Therefore, this additional dissection should be considered, where appropriate, in routine parotid surgery.

Keywords

Parotid glandSurgeryAuricular nerve
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 6 , June 1997 , pp. 556 - 559
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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