The mark of the head and neck surgeon
Reviewed by Stuart Burrows

Like Zorro, the head and neck surgeon leaves their mark. No more so than during parotid surgery. Various modifications have been put forward modifying the classic Blair incision. This latest modification camouflages the pre-tragal scar by running it on to the crus of the helix and then posteriorly along the tragus, then continuing as the traditional Blair from the lobe into the neck. In the paper they present data from 12 patients showing their assessment of the postoperative aesthetics of the scar and the sufficiency of access. The proposed technique offers an interesting new possibility to avoid visible facial scars. As suggested by the authors the combination of a facelift style incision with their technique may offer the optimal aesthetic result. The authors consider that their modified approach can be safely applied for various lateral approaches to the parotid gland pharynx, and even the cranial base.

Modification of Blair approach with a modified endaural component to access the parotid region.
Olarte HF, Gomez-Delgado A, Rivera-Guzman A.
THE JOURNAL OF CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY
2015;26(6):1972-4.