Prevention of Frey's syndrome with superficial musculoaponeurotic system interposition

Abstract

Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy has an incidence generally reported to be 50% to 60% and is thought to be due to aberrant reinnervation of sweat glands by postganglionic parasympathetic fibers normally supplying the parotid gland. One hundred twelve patients had interposition of a flap of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system between the parotid bed and the overlying skin. Only one patient developed symptomatic Frey's syndrome, and one other patient had positive results on starch iodine testing. In patients not having the interposition, the incidence of symptomatic Frey's syndrome and positive starch iodine testing was 83% and 87%, respectively.