title: Temporoparietal fascia flaps and superficial musculoaponeurotic system plication in parotid surgery reduces Frey's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence of Frey's syndrome after parotid gland surgery with elevation of a skin flap versus the interposition of musculoaponeurotic tissue between the skin and the facial nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  The standard skin flap was used in 122 patients (1981 to 1989), whereas interposition of temporoparietal galea or superficial musculoaponeurotic system was performed in 146 consecutive patients (1989 to 1998).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of Frey's syndrome was reduced from 33% to 4% with the use of a musculoaponeurotic layer, and the mean duration of postoperative facial nerve paresis decreased from 3 months to 6 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consideration should be given to the use of an interpositional layer of tissue between the facial nerve and the skin flap to reduce the incidence of Frey's syndrome after parotid gland surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, St Lucas Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cesteleyn
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Helman
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Gaétan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van de Vyvere
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013547:Sweating, Gustatory / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*