Facial nerve and parotid surgery

A series of 100 surgical procedures on the parotid gland affected by tumours is reported, with a detailed analysis of facial nerve function after parotid surgery. A low percentage of temporary lesions (28 %) affecting only one branch of the facial nerve, all of which regressed in a short time, and only one case of a permanent lesion affecting the whole nerve, anatomically intact, however, was observed. The authors confirm the safety of parotidectomy, if correctly performed.