Tumours in the salivary gland tend to form very close to, and sometimes on top of, the facial nerve, which makes salivary gland operations a rather risky and delicate type of surgery. For this reason, surgery to remove salivary gland tumours carries a high risk of damaging the facial nerve, which can result in complete or partial facial paralysis.
The signs of facial paralysis are being unable to blink, raise the eyebrows, close the eyes or smile.
Facial nerve paralysis is a common complication that can be encountered after salivary gland surgery, even with benign lesions. This complication has a significant negative effect on the patient’s quality of life; it is therefore very important to know the risk factors before the operation and to choose an experienced surgeon.
A good surgeon must have a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the face, including the salivary gland and the facial nerve. Knowing and understanding the position of the facial nerve in relation to the salivary gland tumour is the first prerequisite for avoiding damage to the nerve.
In addition, an experienced surgeon should always use a facial nerve monitor during surgery, which helps to identify the main nerve trunk and to follow the branches of the nerve, and thereby make sure that the facial nerve and its branches are not damaged.