[Diagnosis and management of pain syndromes following parotidectomy]

The preservation of the great auricular nerve in parotid gland surgery for benign disease is discussed controversially. The negative impact on quality of life due to lack of sensation in the auricle was underestimated in former times. Thus, more and more surgeons try to preserve the nerve with rising incidence of possible complications like neuralgia. We report on three patients with postoperative neuralgia of the great auricular nerve. Two patients experienced a long lasting remission of their neuralgia after an infiltration of the punctum nervosum with a local anesthetic. In a third patient the great auricular nerve had to be resected 6 months after parotidectomy. Other options of therapy are described.