{"title":"Impact of great auricular nerve preservation status post parotidectomy on quality of life.","authors":"M Shdaifat, N H Van Den Berg, P Sheahan","doi":"10.1016/j.anorl.2026.04.009","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Parotidectomy is a common surgery to treat parotid neoplasms. While much discussion has been invested in complications such as facial nerve injury and Frey syndrome, outcomes arising from great auricular nerve (GAN) sacrifice are not well studied. The present study aims to investigate quality of life outcomes post-parotidectomy according to GAN preservation status.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study of parotidectomy patients between 2011-2020 for benign tumours was performed. Data on quality of life (QoL) was collected through a composite questionnaire (Douleur Neuropathique 4 [DN4] and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs [LANSS]).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess patient quality of life post-parotidectomy according to GAN preservation status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the contacted patients, 76/205 (37.1%) responded. Of these, 38/76 were categorised as GAN-preserved, 34/76 as GAN-sacrificed and 4/76 were excluded as GAN status could not be ascertained. All patients were >6months post-operation. On a scale of 0-10, for pain, the mean values were 2.21/10 (GAN-sacrificed) and 1.32/10 (GAN-preserved) (P=0.645), and for numbness 4.47/10 (GAN-sacrificed), and 4.34/10 (GAN-preserved) (P=0.645). The angle of mandible was the most reported area for neuropathic sensations (42.1% (16/38) of GAN-preserved; 50.0% (17/34) of GAN-sacrificed). Tingling sensation was the most frequent sensation described. On a scale of 0-10 for effect on general QoL, the mean was 1.08/10 for GAN-preserved, and 1.62/10 GAN-sacrificed cohort (P=0.29). No statistical differences for specific QoL measures were found.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results suggest that GAN sacrifice is not associated with increased sensory defects and does not negatively impact on quality of life.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>III.</p>","PeriodicalId":48834,"journal":{"name":"European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Diseases","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anorl.2026.04.009","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims: Parotidectomy is a common surgery to treat parotid neoplasms. While much discussion has been invested in complications such as facial nerve injury and Frey syndrome, outcomes arising from great auricular nerve (GAN) sacrifice are not well studied. The present study aims to investigate quality of life outcomes post-parotidectomy according to GAN preservation status.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study of parotidectomy patients between 2011-2020 for benign tumours was performed. Data on quality of life (QoL) was collected through a composite questionnaire (Douleur Neuropathique 4 [DN4] and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs [LANSS]).
Objectives: To assess patient quality of life post-parotidectomy according to GAN preservation status.
Results: Among the contacted patients, 76/205 (37.1%) responded. Of these, 38/76 were categorised as GAN-preserved, 34/76 as GAN-sacrificed and 4/76 were excluded as GAN status could not be ascertained. All patients were >6months post-operation. On a scale of 0-10, for pain, the mean values were 2.21/10 (GAN-sacrificed) and 1.32/10 (GAN-preserved) (P=0.645), and for numbness 4.47/10 (GAN-sacrificed), and 4.34/10 (GAN-preserved) (P=0.645). The angle of mandible was the most reported area for neuropathic sensations (42.1% (16/38) of GAN-preserved; 50.0% (17/34) of GAN-sacrificed). Tingling sensation was the most frequent sensation described. On a scale of 0-10 for effect on general QoL, the mean was 1.08/10 for GAN-preserved, and 1.62/10 GAN-sacrificed cohort (P=0.29). No statistical differences for specific QoL measures were found.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that GAN sacrifice is not associated with increased sensory defects and does not negatively impact on quality of life.
期刊介绍：
European Annals of Oto-rhino-laryngology, Head and Neck diseases heir of one of the oldest otorhinolaryngology journals in Europe is the official organ of the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology (SFORL) and the the International Francophone Society of Otorhinolaryngology (SIFORL). Today six annual issues provide original peer reviewed clinical and research articles, epidemiological studies, new methodological clinical approaches and review articles giving most up-to-date insights in all areas of otology, laryngology rhinology, head and neck surgery. The European Annals also publish the SFORL guidelines and recommendations.The journal is a unique two-armed publication: the European Annals (ANORL) is an English language well referenced online journal (e-only) whereas the Annales Françaises d’ORL (AFORL), mail-order paper and online edition in French language are aimed at the French-speaking community. French language teams must submit their articles in French to the AFORL site.
Federating journal in its field, the European Annals has an Editorial board of experts with international reputation that allow to make an important contribution to communication on new research data and clinical practice by publishing high-quality articles.
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