title: Frey's syndrome after superficial parotidectomy: role of the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap: a prospective nonrandomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of Frey's syndrome (FS) after superficial parotidectomy in correlation to the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap (SCMMF) interposition is analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective nonrandomized controlled multicenter trial included 130 patients. During superficial parotidectomy, SCMMF was dissected, if excised specimens' volume exceeded 25 mL (SCMMF group). Follow-up examinations took place after 6, 12, and 24 months and included a Minor's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SCMMF was dissected in 30 (23.1%) patients. A total of 104, 80, and 68 patients completed the 1st, 2nd, and the 3rd follow-up, respectively. FS was detectable with nonvarying prevalence (46.3%, 45.6%, and 43.4%, respectively) during follow-up. The prevalence was higher in the SCMMF group (59.9%) than in the non-SCMMF group (41.8%; P = .92). The sweating area increased during follow-up (P = .12). Overall, 89.5% of patients characterized FS as not disturbing after 2 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FS occurred with a steady and high prevalence after superficial parotidectomy. In particular, SCMMF did not lower the risk of FS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, Cologne 50937, Germany. Electronic address: maria.grosheva@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grosheva
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, Cologne 50937, Germany.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Horstmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd Fabian
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holler
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, Cologne 50937, Germany.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weiß
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finkensieper
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wittekindt
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Klussmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guntinas-Lichius
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, Cologne 50937, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beutner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013547:Sweating, Gustatory / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Frey's syndrome; Prospective trial; Sternocleidomastoid muscle flap; Superficial parotidectomy