What is the treatment for Frey's syndrome 2 years post-operatively?

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From the FDA Drug Label

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From the Research

Treatment for Frey's syndrome 2 years post-operation should focus on managing the characteristic facial sweating and flushing that occurs during eating, with botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections being a highly effective treatment option, as evidenced by studies such as 1 and 2. The first-line treatment is often topical antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate, but for patients who don't respond adequately to antiperspirants, botulinum toxin A injections are a viable alternative.

  • The average treated area per patient is around 26 cm2, with an average of 38 units of Botulinum Toxin per patient injected, as seen in 1.
  • The time lapse until improvement is typically around 5.5 days, with the effects of the treatment being long-lasting and side effects being minimal and temporary, as reported in 1.
  • A second injection may be needed after 15 to 18 months of the first, although the affected area is usually smaller, as noted in 1.
  • Anticholinergic medications like glycopyrrolate can also help but may cause side effects like dry mouth and blurred vision.
  • For severe cases unresponsive to these approaches, surgical options include interpositional barriers or neurectomy procedures, which target the aberrant nerve regeneration that occurs when parasympathetic fibers meant for the parotid gland mistakenly connect to sweat glands and blood vessels in the skin, as discussed in 3 and 4. However, the most recent and highest quality study 1 suggests that botulinum toxin A injections are a highly effective and safe treatment for Frey's syndrome, making it the preferred treatment option.

References

Research

Frey's syndrome: treatment with botulinum toxin.

The Journal of laryngology and otology, 1997

Research

Interventions for the treatment of Frey's syndrome.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2015

Research

Management of Frey syndrome.

Head & neck, 2007

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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