Background
The lazy S incision (Blair’s incision) is the standard incision for parotidectomy. This incision gives an excellent exposure of the parotid gland, but may leave an ugly cervical scar, which may impair the patient’s quality of life. Many incisions had been proposed as alternatives to Blair’s incision with the aim of getting a sound scar but without impairing the adequacy of exposure of the operative field. Periauricular incision is one of these incisions which was compared in this study with the standard lazy S incision for partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) regarding feasibility of the procedure, operative time, postoperative complications, and patient’s satisfaction with cosmetic appearance of the scar.
Patients and methods
The present study was a prospective, randomized, controlled study which included 60 patients with the diagnosis of superficial benign parotid lesions who were candidates for PSP. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A included 30 patients who underwent PSP via periauricular incision and group B included 30 patients who underwent PSP via the standard Blair’s incision.
Results
Preoperative data of patients were comparable in both groups. PSP was not feasible via the periauricular incision in two (6.66%) patients of group A. Completion of the procedure required adding a hairline incision in these two patients. Operative time was significantly longer in group A compared with group B (=0.026). Both groups were comparable to each other’s regarding postoperative complications. Patient’s satisfaction with cosmetic appearance of scar using the visual analog scale was significantly higher in group A compared with group B (<0.001).
Conclusion
PSP can be performed safely via a periauricular incision with a longer operating time, comparable postoperative complications, and significantly higher patient satisfaction with cosmetic appearance of scar compared with the standard Blair’s incision.