Frey's syndrome after parotid surgery.

Abstract

The operative records of seventy-one patients who had parotid surgery carried out in the ten year period from 1964 to 1973 were reviewed. Forty-one (67%) of the operations were suprafacial parotidectomies. Of the fifty patients who agreed to reassessment in a special clinic, seventeen had a noticeable degree of Frey's syndrome, and of these fourteen were submitted to further investigations. Minor's test in these fourteen patients showed the greater auricular nerve to be involved in six patients, the ariculotemporal nerve in four, and both nerves in two. The results in two patients were inconclusive. Because the starch test reveals only the distribution of the gustatory sweating, a useful adjunct is described for investigating Frey's syndrome. By blocking of the contralateral greater auricular nerve in the neck and mapping out of the anesthetized area, its sensory distribution is demonstrated. We conclude that it is manifestly unwise to avulse the auriculotemporal nerve if the sweating occurs in the distribution of the greater auricular nerve.

• Authors: A B Gordon, R V Fiddian
• Journal: American journal of surgery (Am J Surg) Vol. 132 Issue 1 Pg. 54-8 (Jul 1976) ISSN: 0002-9610 [Print] United States
• PMID: 952338 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Starch
• Iodine
• Lidocaine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Iodine
• Lidocaine
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nerve Regeneration
• Parasympathetic Nervous System (physiopathology)
• Parotid Gland (innervation, surgery)
• Postoperative Complications
• Spinal Nerves (physiopathology)
• Starch
• Sweating, Gustatory (etiology, physiopathology)
• Trigeminal Nerve (physiopathology)