CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2023; 81(11): 970-979
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777003
Original Article

Post-parotidectomy facial nerve function: comparison between original and modified Sunnybrook Facial Grading Systems

Função do nervo facial pós-parotidectomia: comparação entre os Sistemas Sunnybrook de Graduação Facial original e modificado
1   Hospital do Câncer I, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
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2   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Departamento de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
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3   Hospital do Câncer I, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Departamento de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
,
1   Hospital do Câncer I, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
,
1   Hospital do Câncer I, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
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4   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background: Facial nerve dysfunction is the principal postoperative complication related to parotidectomy.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the modified Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (mS-FGS) is superior to the original S-FGS in the assessment of facial nerve function following parotidectomy.

Methods: Prospective, longitudinal study evaluating patients with primary or metastatic parotid neoplasms undergoing parotidectomy with facial nerve-sparing between 2016 and 2020. The subjects were assessed twice, on the first postoperative day and at the first outpatient evaluation, 20-30 days post-surgery. Facial assessments were performed using the original and modified (plus showing the lower teeth) versions of the Sunnybrook System and documented by pictures and video recordings. Intra- and inter-rater agreements regarding the assessment of the new expression were analyzed.

Results: 101 patients were enrolled. In both steps, the results from the mS-FGS were significantly lower (p < 0.001). Subjects with a history of previous parotidectomy and those who underwent neck dissection had more severe facial nerve impairment. The mandibular marginal branch was the most frequently injured, affecting 68.3% of the patients on the first postoperative day and 52.5% on the first outpatient evaluation. Twenty patients (19.8%) presented an exclusive marginal mandibular branch lesion. The inter-rater agreement of the new expression assessment ranged from substantial to almost perfect. The intra-rater agreement was almost perfect (wk = 0.951).

Conclusion: The adoption of the Modified Sunnybrook System, which includes evaluation of the mandibular marginal branch, increases the accuracy of post-parotidectomy facial nerve dysfunction appraisal.

Resumo

Antecedentes: A disfunção do nervo facial é a principal complicação pós-operatória relacionada à parotidectomia.

Objetivo: Testar a hipótese de que o sistema Sunnybrook de graduação facial modificado (mS-FGS) é superior ao S-FGS original na avaliação da função do nervo facial após parotidectomia.

Métodos: Estudo longitudinal prospectivo avaliando o pós-operatório de pacientes com neoplasias parotídeas primárias ou metastáticas, submetidos à parotidectomia com preservação do nervo facial, entre 2016 e 2020. Os indivíduos foram avaliados duas vezes, no primeiro dia de pós-operatório e na primeira avaliação ambulatorial, 20-30 dias após a cirurgia. As avaliações faciais foram realizadas usando as versões original e modificada (que incluem mostrar os dentes inferiores) do sistema Sunnybrook e documentadas por fotos e vídeos. Foram adicionalmente analisadas as concordâncias intra e interexaminadoras da avaliação da nova expressão.

Resultados: Cento e um pacientes foram incluídos. Em ambas as etapas, os resultados do mS-FGS foram significativamente menores (p < 0,001). Indivíduos com história de parotidectomia prévia e aqueles submetidos ao esvaziamento cervical apresentaram comprometimento mais grave do nervo facial. O ramo marginal mandibular foi o mais afetado, acometendo 68,3% dos pacientes no primeiro dia de pós-operatório e 52,5% na primeira avaliação ambulatorial. Vinte pacientes (19,8%) apresentaram lesão exclusiva do ramo marginal mandibular. A concordância interexaminadores da avaliação da nova expressão variou de substancial a quase perfeita. A concordância intraexaminador foi quase perfeita (wk = 0,951).

Conclusão: A adoção do sistema Sunnybrook modificado, que inclui a análise do ramo marginal mandibular, aumenta a precisão da avaliação da disfunção do nervo facial pós-parotidectomia.

Authors' Contributions

MGTSC: conceptualization, data curation; formal analysis; statistical analysis, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing; PAMF: conceptualization, writing – review & editing, ICS: conceptualization, formal analysis, writing – review & editing; CRAG: data curation; CHSA: data curation; RRL: methodology, formal analysis, statistical analysis; writing – review & editing, research coordinator.




Publication History

Received: 02 June 2023

Accepted: 06 September 2023

Article published online:
30 November 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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