PREVENTION OF FREY`S SYNDROME BY USING TEMPOROPARTIETAL FASCIAL FLAP.

Park, Eun Soo; Kim, Yong Bae; Lee, Young Mann; Yang, Soon Jae; Park, Chong Sup

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 1997;24(3):580-586.
Published online May 1, 1997.

PREVENTION OF FREY`S SYNDROME BY USING TEMPOROPARTIETAL FASCIAL FLAP.

Eun Soo Park, Yong Bae Kim, Young Mann Lee, Soon Jae Yang, Chong Sup Park

Abstract

Frey's syndrome is a fairly common sequelae of surgery, trauma and inflammation of the parotid gland. Some patients with Frey's syndrome may be socially compromised by their gustatory sweating and flushing. In the past three decades, a variety of surgical and pharmacological methods have been unsuccessful in alleviating these symptoms. And since misdirection of auriculotemporal secretomotor nerve fibers has been found to play an important role in the development of the syndrome, a study was initiated to attempt mechnical interference with regenerating nerve fibers. Therefore, the recent trend in management of Frey's syndrome has been the use of prophylactic procedures performed at the time of parotidectomy to prevent its symptoms postoperatively. An additional benefit of this approach is prevention of the typical cheek contour deformity after parotidectomy We reviewed our experience with interposition of a vascularized temporoparietal fascial flap between the parotid bed and overlying skin immediately after complete superficial parotidectomies to prevent Frey's syndrome and hollow contour defects. The result of seven consecutive attempts revealed it to be an effective technique, achieving both goals in all patients with minimal morbidity.