Abstract: Objective: To investigate the efficacy of extracapsular dissection combined with autologous granular fat transplantation in the treatment of benign parotid gland tumors. Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted, and 86 patients with benign parotid tumors who met the indications for extracapsular dissection admitted to our hospital from June 2022 to June 2024 were selected as the study subjects. The patients were divided by random number table method. The control group (43 cases) was given extracapsular dissection, while the observation group (43 cases) was combined with autologous granular fat transplantation on the basis of the control group. The surgical conditions, postoperative recovery, and parotid secretion indices at preoperative, postoperative 1 month, postoperative 3 months, and postoperative 6 months were compared between the two groups. The occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications was also compared between the two groups. Results: Compared to the control group, the observation group had a longer operation time (P<0.05), and greater intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in hospitalization duration between the two groups (P>0.05). At postoperative 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, the parotid secretion indices in both groups were lower than those before surgery within the same group (P<0.05), and were higher at postoperative 3 months and 6 months compared to 1 month postoperatively within the same group (P<0.05), and were higher at postoperative 6 months compared to 3 months postoperatively within the same group (P<0.05). At postoperative 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, the parotid secretion indices in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Regarding intraoperative complications, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of tumor capsule rupture between the two groups (P>0.05). In terms of postoperative complications, the observation group had a higher incidence of facial swelling, pain and itching, and skin bruising [13.95% (6/43), 18.60% (8/43), 13.95% (6/43)] compared to the control group [0.00% (0/43), 2.33% (1/43), 0.00% (0/43)] (P<0.05). The incidence of facial depression was lower in the observation group [2.33% (1/43)] than in the control group [20.93% (9/43)] (P<0.05). Conclusion: The treatment of benign parotid tumors with extracapsular excision combined with autologous fat granule transplantation has minimal damage to parotid secretion function, facilitating postoperative recovery of parotid secretion function and reducing the occurrence of facial depression. However, the procedure is time-consuming, with significant intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage, and a high risk of facial swelling, pain and itching, and skin bruising.

Key words: benign parotid gland tumors, extracapsular dissection, autologous granular fat transplantation, complications