Recurrent Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Parotid Gland Intraoperative Facial Nerve Monitoring during Parotidectomy

ObjectiveTo determine the benefit to postoperative facial function of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring (IFNM) during recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (RPA) parotid surgery.Study DesignCohort study with planned data collection.SettingChinese PLA General Hospital.Subjects and MethodsFifty-eight RPA parotidectomies were performed between 2004 and 2012. Recurrence was confirmed by histopathologic examination. None of the patients had preoperative facial palsy. Electromyography-based IFNM was used in 28 patients; 30 patients were unmonitored. The durations of surgery and the severity of postoperative facial nerve palsy were compared between the 2 groups.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the incidence of immediate or permanent facial paralysis after RPA parotidectomy (P = .95 and P = .36, respectively). However, the differences in the average duration of surgery and the severity of postoperative facial nerve palsy after total parotidectomy or wide resection were significant...