The risk of facial nerve palsy after benign parotidectomy. A quality project

Abstract

Background

Facial nerve palsy is a potential complication of parotidectomy for benign salivary gland tumours, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its incidence and associated risk factors for improved patient counselling and preoperative planning.

Aim/objectives

This single-centre retrospective study aimed to assess the rate of facial nerve palsy following benign parotidectomy at a University Teaching Hospital.

Material and methods

Over a 3-year period, 160 patients undergoing parotid surgery for benign tumours were included. Data, encompassing sex, age, operation technique, tumour pathology, facial nerve function, and follow-up duration, were collected from medical records. Exclusion criteria comprised patients with prior parotid gland surgery or preoperative facial nerve palsy.

Results

The study revealed a 3.75% incidence of facial nerve palsy with no total paralysis post-parotidectomy for benign disease. Pleomorphic adenoma (50.6%) and Warthin’s tumour (44.4%) were the predominant tumour types. No significant differences were noted between groups with and without postoperative facial palsy based on obtained covariates.

Conclusion and significance

Our findings endorse partial superficial parotidectomy and extracapsular dissection as low-risk treatments for benign parotid tumours. However, prospective studies are warranted to elucidate recovery rates and long-term consequences of facial nerve palsy, contributing to refined surgical approaches and patient care in parotid surgery.

Chinese abstract

背景

面神经麻痹是良性唾液腺腮腺肿瘤切除术的潜在并发症, 需要全面了解其发病率和相关危险因素, 以获得更好的患者咨询和术前计划。

目的

这项单中心回顾性研究旨在评估在大学教学医院进行良性腮腺切除术后面神经麻痹的发生率。

材料和方法

在 3 年期间, 纳入了160 名接受良性腮腺肿瘤手术的患者。从病历中收集数据, 包括性别、年龄、手术技术、肿瘤病理、面部神经功能和随访时长。 排除标准包括既往接受过腮腺手术或术前面神经麻痹的患者。

结果

研究显示, 面神经麻痹的发生率为 3.75%, 没有良性腮腺肿瘤切除术后的完全瘫痪。 多形性腺瘤(50.6%)和沃辛瘤(44.4%)是主要的肿瘤类型。 根据获得的协变量, 有术后面瘫组和无术后面瘫组之间没有发现显著差异。

结论和意义

我们的研究结果支持腮腺浅部部分切除术和囊外切除术是良性腮腺肿瘤的低风险治疗方法。 然而, 前瞻性研究是必要的, 可以阐明面神经麻痹的恢复率及其长期后果, 有助于精炼腮腺手术的手术方法和患者护理。

Keywords:

• Benign parotid tumour
• facial nerve palsy
• parotid surgery
• parotidectomy
• postoperative complication

Acknowledgements

We thank OPEN, Open Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Region of Southern Denmark, for facilitating the REDCap database and OPEN Analyse to store and process data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).