THE GRACILIS FREE-FLAP FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF PAROTIDECTOMY DEFECTS

Total parotidectomy causes a significant postoperative concave deformi ty in the retromandibular, preauricular, and infra-auricular regions o f the face; many patients are concerned about this defect. Frey's synd rome (gustatory sweating) is also a well-recognized postoperative enti ty following parotid surgery. The incidence of Frey's syndrome ranges from 10-90%, depending on the type and complexity of the investigation used to diagnose it [5, 11]. Numerous methods have been described to correct these problems. Patients requiring total parotidectomy were re cently offered the option of immediate reconstruction of the contour d efect with microvascular transfer of a tailored gracilis muscle flap. Four patients are included in this preliminary series, all are extreme ly satisfied with the postoperative result. The defect following total parotidectomy can be reconstructed immediately with gratifying cosmet ic results, a hidden donor site scar, and to date no operative morbidi ty.