Abstract
Temporary facial nerve palsy after parotid tumor surgery ranges from 14 to 65%, depending on surgery, tumor type, and subsite. The study aimed to evaluate the role of Kabat physical rehabilitation in the outcomes of patients affected by severe facial nerve palsy following parotid gland surgery. The results and clinical data of two groups, Kabat and non-Kabat (control), were statistically compared. Descriptive statistics, the multiple linear regression model, difference in difference approach, and the generalized linear model were used. F-Test, Chi-square test, McFadden R-squared, and adjusted R-squared were used to assess the significance. The results showed that the House–Brackmann (HB) stage of patients who had physiotherapy performed were lower than the control group. The decrease of HB staging in the Kabat group at 3 months was −0.71 on average, thus the probability of having a high HB stage decreased by about 13% using Kabat therapy. The results are statistically significant, and indicated that when the Kabat rehabilitation protocol is performed, mainly in the cases of a high-grade HB score, the patients showed a better and faster improvement in postoperative facial nerve palsy.
Highlights
Facial nerve palsy (FNP) is a disabling pathology that significantly affects the functional, psychological, social, and occupational aspects of a patient’s life
The study aimed to evaluate the role of Kabat physical rehabilitation in the outcomes of patients affected by severe facial nerve palsy following parotid gland surgery
The results showed that the House–Brackmann (HB) stage of patients who had physiotherapy performed were lower than the control group
Summary
Facial nerve palsy (FNP) is a disabling pathology that significantly affects the functional, psychological, social, and occupational aspects of a patient’s life. This condition represents a frequent complication after parotid gland surgery, regardless of the surgical technique used and despite the most recent advances in surgical instrumentation and intraoperative monitoring [1,2]. The literature is unclear on the specific incidence of temporary FNP after parotid tumor surgery, and has been shown to range from 14 to 65% depending on the surgery, tumor type, and subsite [3,4]. While the literature agrees that any treatment should be implemented as it overall improves the patients’ quality of life, each to a different extent, no specific medical, surgical, or physiotherapy guidelines are currently available for post-operative FNP [7]
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