Purpose: To assess the impact of retrograde dissection of the facial nerve along the mandibular margin on the postoperative quality of life in patients with benign superficial parotid tumors.
Methods: One hundred and sixteen patients who underwent surgical treatment for benign superficial parotid tumors at Qingdao Central Hospital from January 2020 to January 2023 were involved. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups, with 58 patients in each group using the touch ball method.The control group underwent antegrade dissection of the facial nerve during surgery, while the experimental group underwent retrograde dissection along the mandibular margin. Surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, incision length and hospital stay between the two groups were compared. Postoperative pain levels were recorded at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after surgery. Chewing function was assessed at 15 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. House-Brackmann scale (H-B) and scar cosmesis assessment and rating (SCAR) scale were used to evaluate facial nerve function and aesthetic outcomes at 3 days and 6 months postoperatively. The quality of life of the two groups of patients was compared before and 6 months after surgery. Complications were recorded including temporary facial paralysis, periaural numbness, salivate fistula and Frey syndrome. SPSS 28.0 software package was used for statistical analysis.
Results: The operative time of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group, intraoperative blood loss, incision length and postoperative pain score of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Masticatory efficiency, facial nerve function, scar aesthetics and quality of life of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group, while the incidence of complications was significantly decreased than those of the control group(P＜0.05).
Conclusions: The use of retrograde dissection of facial nerve along the mandibular marginal branch during surgery for benign parotid gland is helpful to reduce intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain, and improve patients' quality of life.