[Pain and sensory impairment following parotidectomy. A descriptive study]

From 1985 to 1992 parotidectomy was performed at Vejle Hospital in 114 patients with a parotid tumour. Ninety-five of the patients completed a questionnaire. Twenty-four reported various degrees of pain at the time of the investigation, and 57 reported numbness or uncomfortable sensations of the skin. No association between symptoms and age, gender or follow-up time could be traced. Twenty patients with clinically significant complaints were subsequently interviewed and examined. Five patients had a neuroma in the scar region. Hypoaesthesia was found in 18/20 of the patients. The results emphasize the importance of avoiding unnecessary division of the great auricular nerve in order to reduce the risk of pain and sensory impairment postoperatively. The authors suggest that the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve be spared whenever possible. Patients should be informed about the risk preoperatively.