Is it necessary to preserve the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve in parotidectomy?
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.
Min
Hyun Jung
HJ
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Hyung Seok
HS
Lee
Yong Seop
YS
Jeong
Jin Hyeok
JH
Cho
Seok Hyun
SH
Lee
Seung Hwan
SH
Kim
Kyung Rae
KR
Park
Chul Won
CW
Tae
Kyung
K
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