Rare complication of acute transient parotitis after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a case report

Acute postoperative parotitis, also known as anesthesia mumps, involves transient inflammation and enlargement of the parotid gland after general anesthesia. No case reports of acute postoperative parotitis after arthroscopic shoulder surgery have been reported to date. Therefore, we share our experience with a recent case of acute postoperative parotitis as a rare complication of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in lateral decubitus position. Symptoms can be unilateral or bilateral, painless, and often resolve spontaneously within hours or days; in rare cases, such as upper airway obstruction, the condition can be fatal. Treatment options for parotitis vary from conservative to surgical depending on severity, and outcomes also vary. Therefore, orthopedic surgeons should be aware that this rare complication can occur after surgery, and patients should be warned before surgery.