Determination of Complications using Different Techniques for Parotidectomy for Benign Tumors

Objectives: There are few long-term prospective studies on procedure-related complications following parotid surgery for benign neoplasms (BNs). This is the first prospective study on the use of extracapsular dissection (ECD) for BNs, and its goal was to look at the incidence of postoperative complications following parotid surgery for BN.

Methods: We analysed transient and long-term complications from a prospective study of parotidectomy for BN at a university hospital.

Results: The rates of transient facial palsy immediately after surgery and 18 months later were 15.0 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. The rates of immediate postoperative facial palsy in patients who underwent ECD, partial superficial, superficial, and total parotidectomy were 5.8%, 29.3%, 20.0%, and 44.1%, respectively. Multiple and larger lesions, as well as surgery duration and extension, were significant risk factors for facial palsy.

Conclusions: Postoperative facial palsy is still a common complication after parotidectomy for BN, and it is related to the extent of the parotidectomy, the presence of multiple neoplasms, and the length of the operation. The findings of this study suggested that ECD could be a safe method of avoiding facial palsy.