Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the applicability of retrograde facial nerve dissection during superficial parotidectomy for benign parotid adenomas as regards surgical and functional outcomes.
Methods: The study included 13 patients assigned for superficial parotidectomy using retrograde approach, one of them was assigned to be conducted using anterograde approach but converted to retrograde due to difficulty to identify facial nerve trunk. All patients underwent full history taking, clinical examination and radiological evaluation.
Results: Thirteen patients; 9 males and 4 females with mean age of 33.9±9.6 years were enrolled in the study. All patients had smooth intraoperative course with mean operative time of 91±23.3; range: 60-145 minutes, mean intraoperative blood loss was 53±13.9 ml. Suction drains were removed after a mean duration of 36.5±15.2 hours and mean hospital stay was 44.3±18.5 hours. Two patients showed partial facial weakness with a frequency of 15.4%. Both cases received medical treatment and physiotherapy and the weakness resolved after one and 3 months, respectively.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that retrograde parotidectomy is a feasible, safe approach for facial nerve dissection with minimal reversible postoperative complications and it is recommended if difficulties were anticipated or encountered during standard parotidectomy
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