Background/Objectives: Parotid surgery is generally performed with the naked eye or using surgical loupes. However, this approach has technical disadvantages. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the use of an exoscope with that of loupe for parotidectomies. Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent partial parotidectomies for parotid tumors was conducted. We examined the approach (anterograde/retrograde), tumor localization (superficial/deep), operative time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications occurring within 6 months. Results: Overall, 174 patients underwent parotidectomies (90 in the exoscope group, 84 in the loupe group). In parotidectomies using the anterograde approach, the exoscope group had significantly fewer reports of facial nerve palsy than the loupe group. Parotidectomy-related complications other than facial palsy were significantly fewer in the exoscope group. However, the operation time was significantly longer in the exoscope group than in the loupe group. Conclusions: An ORBEYETM exoscope provides a magnified view of the surgical field, leading to more accurate operations in parotid surgery and potentially fewer complications.
Keywords: exoscope; facial palsy; parotid tumor; parotidectomy; three-dimensional.