Is the greater auricular nerve important in parotid surgery?
Reviewed by Serge Latis

The greater auricular nerve (GAN) is often partially or totally sacrificed during parotidectomy procedures. This was a retrospective study comparing auricular sensation and quality of life in patients that either had their GAN preserved or sacrificed. In the shortterm, patients with GAN preservation, had significantly improved auricular sensation. Surprisingly, there was no significant improvement in auricular sensation nor quality of life in those patients with GAN sacrifice. Some of the data collection took place 11 years after surgery and the response rate was only 43%. In total, 137 patients responded so, as with a number of these studies, further work is required. However, this study does attempt to answer a practical question we pose ourselves when performing surgery.

Long-term quality of life and sensory impact of great auricular nerve preservation in parotid surgery as measured with the Parotidectomy Outcome Inventory-8.
Bulut OC, Hohenberger R, Oladokun D, et al.
CLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY
2019;44(5):743-8.