Facial Nerve Morbidity Following Parotid Surgery for Benign Disease: the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Experience

Standard surgical management for benign tumors of the parotid gland requires either superficial, subtotal, or total parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve. Although this approach is effective in minimizing recurrence, the resultant facial nerve morbidity is seldom addressed. Two hundred fifty-six consecutive patients who underwent parotid surgery for benign neoplasia at this institution in the past 15 years are reviewed, with attention to postoperative facial nerve function. Immediate dysfunction was frequently encountered (46.1%), but permanent dysfunction was uncommon (3.9%). The incidence of long-term dysfunction may be higher in revision cases and when an extended (total or subtotal) parotidectomy is performed.