Free Dermal Fat Graft (FDFG) Versus Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) Flap After Superficial Parotidectomy; Evaluation of Functional and Esthetic Outcome

Parotidectomy is the standard procedure for treatment of many parotid lesions, however it carries a lot of drawbacks. Facial asymmetry and Frey's syndrome are the most annoying complications to the patients. Insertion of inter-positioning grafts at parotidectomy bed can decrease these complications significantly. Free dermal fat graft (FDFG) and the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) flap, have very promising results. In this study the investigators have compared the functional and esthetic outcome from their usage.

Seventy-eight patient underwent parotidectomy for various causes. The patients were divided randomly in 2 groups each group 39 patients. In one group FDFG was inserted at the parotidectomy bed, while in the other group SMAS flap was performed. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were recorded and analyzed.

The normality of distribution of variables was verified by Wilks -Shapiro test. The data were expressed as Number (No), percentage (%) mean (x̅) and standard deviation (SD). Chi-square test (χ2) was used to study association between qualitative variables. Whenever any of the expected cells were less than five, Fischer's Exact test was used. Student's t-test is a test of significance used for comparison of quantitative variables between two groups of normally distributed data, while Mann Whitney's test was used for comparison of quantitative variables between two groups of not normally distributed data. Two-sided P value was set to be significant if < 0.05.