Which nerve is injured during parotidectomy?
The branch of the facial nerve most at risk for injury during parotidectomy is the marginal mandibular branch. Older patients appear to be more susceptible to facial nerve injury. Temporary facial nerve weakness is a cosmetic problem, and patients should be told their appearance will return to normal.
Where is the facial nerve during a parotidectomy?
There are two approaches to identify the facial nerve trunk during parotidectomy—conventional antegrade dissection of the facial nerve, and retrograde dissection. Numerous soft tissue and bony landmarks have been proposed to assist the surgeon in the early identification of this nerve.
How do you know if you have a facial nerve parotidectomy?
The posterior belly of digastric muscle is the most easily identifiable and a very consistent landmark for facial nerve dissection during parotidectomy. When supplemented with the tragal pointer, accuracy in identifying the facial nerve trunk is very high, thereby avoiding inadvertent injury to the nerve trunk.
Which nerve must be transacted as part of a superficial parotidectomy?
The greater auricular nerve branches and the external jugular vein are identified, and the plane is developed superficial to these structures. At this point, if necessary, the anterior branch of the greater auricular nerve is transected sharply and tagged for reanastomosis.
How can we save facial nerve in parotid surgery?
Preserving The Facial Nerve During Parotid Surgery Larian will make a small incision along the skin’s natural creases to ensure the resulting scar is well hidden. He then lifts the skin off of the underlying parotid gland and separates the gland from the surrounding tissues to get access to the facial nerve.
What is Frey’s syndrome following parotidectomy?
Abstract. Background: Frey’s syndrome (FS) is defined as facial sweating due to gustatory stimuli following surgery or trauma of the parotid gland. Concomitant symptoms may occur in the area of the auriculotemporal nerve: swelling, facial flushing, and paresthesia.
What are the side effects of a parotidectomy?
The symptoms you might have depend on the salivary gland that is affected.
- Numbness and weakness.
- Sweating of the face at meal times.
- Problems moving the lower lip.
- Numbness and loss of sensation in the tongue.
- Problems closing your eye.
- Feeling tired and weak.
- Pain.
How painful is a parotidectomy?
Generally, patients experience a mild sore throat for 2-3 days following parotidectomy. This usually does not interfere with swallowing. Pain Control: Patients report moderate facial and neck pain for several days following parotidectomy.
How long does facial numbness last after parotidectomy?
You may have numbness in your earlobe and weakness in your face. For most people, these problems get better within 3 to 4 months. But it can take as long as a year. In some cases, problems with facial movement are permanent.
What happens when the parotid gland is removed?
Surgery for a parotid gland cancer can cause numbness in the earlobe and the skin around the wound. Or you may have facial weakness so that your face looks droopy. This is usually temporary and only affects the side of the face where you had surgery.
Can you live without your parotid glands?
The removal of one parotid gland will not have an impact on the amount of saliva that you produce. There are many other salivary glands left in and around the mouth that will still keep it moist.
What is Frey’s syndrome following Parotidectomy?