Abstract

The antegrade approach is the conventional/standard technique of identification and
dissection of the facial nerve. It is usually the standard procedure for a trainee to master6. The
technique involves identification of the facial nerve trunk as it leaves the stylomastoid
foramen. This is accomplished through identification of the nerve trunk via its relationship
with the tympanomastoid suture, the tragal pointer or the posterior belly of the digastric.
During the study period of 20 month 37 patients with benign parotid disease who underwent
surgery were included in study group. Based on the surgeon expertise and familiarity with the
technique of facial nerve dissection 17 patients underwent retrograde dissection of facial
nerve for parotidectomy and was grouped as retrograde group. In retrograde group, surgeons
with a good experience of retrograde technique performed all surgery. 45% patients in
antegrade group vs. 2 (11.76%) patients in retrograde group recovered completely at 1 month
interval. We tested difference between the groups in facial nerve injury recovery at 1month
by applying Fischer’s exact test p= 0.028 and it was found to be statistically significant.