Great auricular nerve preservation in parotid surgery: rationale and long-term results insights.
Great auricular nerve (GAN) is frequently sacrificed during parotid surgery. GAN preservation during parotidectomy is advised to avoid complications such as sensitive disorders, but debate still exists. In this study, our experience is reported on the matter. From a cohort of 173 parotidectomies carried out in the period 2005-2010, we studied 60 patients: 20 patients in which we preserved only the posterior branch of GAN (group A), 20 patients in which we preserved also the lobular branch (group B) and 20 patients in which the main trunk of GAN was sectioned (group C); we evaluated tactile sensitivity in all the skin supplied by GAN at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Group B is the best in terms of loss and recovery of sensitivity after 1-year post-surgery, followed closely by group A, on the contrary group C confirmed to be the worst. Results suggest that saving as many branches of the GAN as possible during parotid surgery could be useful for reducing hypo-dysesthesia. Preserving posterior and lobular branches of the GAN, when possible, improves the sensitivity of the preauricular area with better quality of life for the patient.
Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, ENT Section, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. amoretti@orl.unich.it.
Antonio
A
Moretti
Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, ENT Section, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
Leonardo
L
Citraro
Postgraduate School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, "G.d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
Anna Grazia
AG
Petrucci
Department of Pharmacy, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
Pamela
P
Di Giovanni
Department of Translational Medicine, Otolaryngology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
Roberta
R
Di Mauro
Department of Translational Medicine, Otolaryngology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy. giacominipg@gmail.com.
Pier Giorgio
PG
Giacomini
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002572:Cervical Plexus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*
Dysesthesia; Great auricular nerve; Parotid surgery; Sensory disorders