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Facial nerve dysfunction following parotidectomy: role of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring

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Abstract

Purpose

Facial nerve dysfunction (FND) is a frequent and serious parotidectomy outcome. Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring (IFNM) is an increasingly used technique to identify the facial nerve (FN) and minimize its injury. This study aimed to evaluate the determinant factors in the presence and severity of FND after parotidectomy, including IFNM.

Study design, setting and methods

A total of 48 patients consecutively submitted to parotidectomy between 2005 and 2020 in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The House–Brackmann Scale (HBS) was used to assess the severity of FND.

Results

There was a mean age of 54.2 ± 17.8 years, 50% were male. Pleomorphic adenoma (41.7%) and Warthin’s tumor (25.0%) were most common. From the 23 patients (47.9%) who developed some degree of FND (HBS score of 3.41 ± 1.53), 19 (82.6%) showed facial movement recovery, with a mean recovery time of 4.78 ± 2.53 months. IFNM was performed in 39.6% of the surgeries. The use of IFNM (p = 0.514), the type of surgery—partial or total parotidectomy—(p = 0.853) and the type of histology—benign or malignant lesion—(p = 0.852) did not significantly influence the presence of FND in the postoperative period. However, in the subgroup of patients who developed FND, the HBS value was significantly lower in cases of benign pathology (p = 0.002) and in patients who underwent IFNM (p = 0.017), denoting a significantly lower severity.

Conclusion

In the present study, IFNM and the existence of a benign lesion have been shown to be associated with lower severity of FND.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otorrhynolaryngology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, EPE, Porto, Portugal

    José João Ruas, Jorge Rodrigues, Manuel Ribeiro & Carla Pinto Moura

  2. Anatomy Unit of the Biomedicine Department, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Jorge Rodrigues

  3. Medical Genetics Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, EPE / Faculdade Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Carla Pinto Moura

  4. I3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Carla Pinto Moura

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  1. José João Ruas
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Ruas, J.J., Rodrigues, J., Ribeiro, M. et al. Facial nerve dysfunction following parotidectomy: role of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 280, 1479–1484 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07720-0

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