Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap Reconstruction during Parotidectomy to Prevent Frey's Syndrome and Facial Contour Deformity

Abstract

We studied the incidence of Frey s syndrom e and facial contour deformity in two groups of patients who had undergone supe rfic ial parotidectomy. One group was made up of 12 patients who were randomized to undergo reconstruction ofthe surgical defect with a sternocleidomastoid muscle jlap; the other 12 patients did not receive a jlap. All 24 patients were evaluated via a short questionnaire, the starch-iodine test, and a visual examination. On the questionnai re, none of the 24pati ents said they experienced abnormalfa cial sweating, flu shing, or warmth while eating, although 6 of the 12 patients in the nonjlap group had a mildly positive starch-iodine test. No patient in the flap group had a positive test. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups with respect to cosmetic results.

Free fat grafting in superficial parotid surgery to prevent Frey's syndrome and improve aesthetic outcome

“…Following use of such a flap, the reported prevalence of subjective symptoms of Frey's syndrome varies from 0 to 40 per cent. 5,41 Bianchi et al 4 found that using a sternocleidomastoid or sub-superficial musculo-aponeurotic system flap enabled significantly better aesthetic results, compared with patients not receiving such a flap; however, the result was reliant on performing partial superficial parotidectomy. A systematic review of the use of sternocleidomastoid flaps was unable to reach any firm conclusions due to the heterogeneity, small sample size and bias of all of the studies included.…”

Quality of life after surgery for benign disease of the parotid gland

“…Surgical methods (thick skin flap elevation or the use of fascia lata grafts, dermal fat grafts, sternocleidomastoid muscle flaps, superficial musculoaponeurotic system flaps or temporoparietal fascia flaps 14 -18 ) involve interposing a barrier between the sweat glands and the exposed post-ganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibres. Asal and colleagues 18 used the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap in 12 of 24 patients, and no flap was used in the other 12 patients in their study. Those authors indicated that the result was zero per cent in the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap group and 50 per cent in the non-flap group, as determined by the starch -iodine test.…”

Clinical application of modified incision and sternocleidomastoid muscle flap in surgery of parotid gland tumors

“…It was obvious affect facial beauty of patients, We improved this incision, we adopted more subtle incision of facial wrinkle, At the same time used the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap transfer to fill parotid defect [3]. We improved patients looks by improving incision and operative cavity was stuffied by sternocleidomastoid muscle flap.…”