Longitudinal perioperative pain, neuromusculoskeletal complications and quality-of-life assessment in partial parotidectomy.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pain, neuromusculoskeletal complications, and quality of life (QoL) in patients who had undergone partial parotidectomy (PP) for benign parotid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients were evaluated before (T0) and at 1 week (T1) and 1 month (T2) after surgery. The patients were assessed for cervical range of motion (ROM), neck pain (NRS), neuropathic pain (DN4), neck disability (NDI), facial disability (FDI), and the presence of facial neuropathy, and QoL. RESULTS: Twenty patients were included. A slight decrease was noted in cervical ROM, mild neck pain and disability were seen in T1. The DN4 score markedly increased at T1 (4.25) compared to T0 (0.1). Then it declined to 1.95 at T2. While there was no neuropathy in any of the patients at T0, it was present in 3 patients at T1. However, all improved at T2. QoL was negatively affected at T1 but showed improvement at T2. There was a significant correlation between NRS and NDI, FDI. CONCLUSION: Neuromusculoskeletal problems and impaired QoL may develop in patients who have undergone PP. It would be beneficial to evaluate these patients using a multidisciplinary approach and inform them before surgery.