Parotidectomy: the timing of post-operative complications

We evaluated the timing of complications following parotidectomy. We performed a 119-patient retrospective case series analysis over a 12-year period (1994-2006) and investigated timing of post-operative complications. 38% of temporary facial nerve palsies resolved within 1 month, 78% within 3 months and all recorded resolved within 7 months. Tumour recurrence, ranged from 5 months to 9 years post-surgery with a median of 5 years. Salivary fistula formation ranged from 3 to 45 days post-surgery with a median of 11.5 days. The development of Frey's ranged from 20 days to 22 months, median 11 months. This information can better inform clinicians and those patients undergoing parotidectomy.