Frey's syndrome and parotidectomy flaps: A retrospective cohort study

Gustatory sweating, also known as Frey's syndrome, is a recognized phenomenon after parotidectomy. The incidence of clinically significant gustatory sweating may be dependent on the thickness of the skin flap that is elevated at the time of surgery. Dissection in the subcutaneous level or the deeper sub-superficial musculoaponeurotic system level are 2 commonly used techniques in the operation. Twenty-eight patients were prospectively evaluated for Frey's syndrome after superficial parotidectomy. Thirteen patients underwent subcutaneous and 15 patients sub-superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap elevation. The overall incidence of gustatory sweating was determined, and a comparison of the two surgical techniques was assessed subjectively by patient interview-questionnaire and objectively evaluated with starch-iodine testing.