title: Is it necessary to preserve the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve in parotidectomy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the necessity of preserving the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve during parotidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients undergoing parotidectomy were prospectively analyzed. Twenty-four patients had preservation of the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve; in the remaining 22 patients the nerve was sacrificed. A sensory index score was defined as the area involved multiplied by the intensity grade of sensory loss. Quality-of-life was evaluated with a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensory index score was significantly higher in the sacrificed group as compared with the preserved group at both 1 week (41.87 vs 62.11) and 1 month (24.91 vs 46.11) after parotidectomy. The sensory deficit improved over time in both groups, and after 12 months only minimal sensory loss remained. Quality-of-life was not significantly different between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irrespective of preservation of the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve, sensory deficit improved over time. Therefore, preservation of the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve might not be necessary during parotidectomy.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyun Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Min
authors: Hyung Seok
authors: HS
authors: Lee
authors: Yong Seop
authors: YS
authors: Lee
authors: Jin Hyeok
authors: JH
authors: Jeong
authors: Seok Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Cho
authors: Seung Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Kyung Rae
authors: KR
authors: Kim
authors: Chul Won
authors: CW
authors: Park
authors: Kyung
authors: K
authors: Tae
mesh_terms: D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000601:surgery; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D004431:Ear, External / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006099:Granuloma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology