DOES FLAP THICKNESS AFFECT THE INCIDENCE OF FREY’S SYNDROME AFTER SUPERFICIAL PAROTIDECTOMY?

SSK Ankara Eğitim Hastanesi, II. KBB Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye The effect of the skin flap in the development of Frey’s syndrome after superficial parotidectomy has been investigated by preparing the sub-superficial musculoaponeurotic system (Sub-SMAS) skin flap in 10 patients and the subcutaneous skin flap in 9 patients. Clinical questioning (subjective) and Minor’s starch iodine test (objective) have been used in the assessment of the patients. The time elapsed till Minor’s starch iodine test has been done after parotidectomy is 13 months on average in the subcutaneous group and 16 months in the sub-SMAS group. In the Sub-SMAS flap group, subjective Frey syndrome was 20% and objective Frey syndrome was found at the rate of 30%. In the subcutaneous flap group, subjective Frey’s syndrome was 33.3% and objective Frey’s syndrome was 33.3%. There is no statistically significant difference between subcutaneous and sub-SMAS flaps with respect to the frequency of Frey’s syndrome (p>0.05) Keywords : Frey’s Syndrome, parotidectomy, skin flap