title: [Significance of preserving the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve in parotid surgery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility, technique and significance of preserving the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve in parotid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  48 cases with parotid tumor who underwent regular parotid surgery with cosmetic incision were included. The sensory testing was carried out in upper auricle, lobule, infra-auricular, pre-auricular and post-auricular region preoperatively and at 10 days, 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The posterior branch of the great auricular nerve was preserved in 35 out of 48 patients. There was no sensory loss in the upper auricle and post-auricular region. Early after operation, sensory disturbance was found in lobule, infra-auricular region, but significantly in pre-auricular region. The sensory disturbance was recovered slowly to nearly normal level at six months after operation. 13 cases with sacrifice of the nerve had a significantly higher sensory disturbance and a longer recovery time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preservation of the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve during parotid surgery is technically feasible and can reduce the postoperative sensory disturbance and possible permanent sensory loss. It further helps to improve the quality of life early after operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head & Neck-Plastic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xue-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chi-bin
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Bu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004431:Ear, External / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult