OBJECTIVE: To describe, according to the CARE guidelines, an easily reproducible technique using two local muscle flaps to reduce the unsightly retromandibular hollow left by total parotidectomy for cancer.
METHODS: A 40-year-old Caucasian male with T3N1M0 temporal skin melanoma was managed by skin resection, conservative total parotidectomy and ipsilateral level II-IV selective lymph-node dissection. Two rotational muscle flaps were taken from the ipsilateral posterior belly of the digastric and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Postoperative course was uneventful, with 3 days\' hospital stay, without facial or spinal palsy. At 3 days, 3 months and 9 months postoperatively, the appearance of the parotid region was similar to the non-operated contralateral region.
CONCLUSIONS: Easy to perform and without associated scars, the approach described here should be included in the armamentarium available to the head and neck surgeon to avoid an unsightly hollow after total parotidectomy for cancer, in an effort to improve quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Most frequent attendance in primary care is temporary, but persistent frequent attendance is expensive and may be suitable for psychological intervention. To plan appropriate intervention and service delivery, there is a need for research involving standardized psychiatric interviews with assessment of physical health and health status.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the mental and physical health characteristics and health status of persistent frequent attenders (FAs) in primary care, currently and over the preceding 2 years, with normal attenders (NAs) matched by age, gender and general practice.
METHODS: Case-control study of 71 FAs (30 or more GP or practice nurse consultations in 2 years) and 71 NAs, drawn from five primary care practices, employing standardized psychiatric interview, quality of life, health anxiety and primary care electronic record review over the preceding 2 years.
RESULTS: Compared to NAs, FAs were more likely to report a lower quality of life (P < 0.001), be unmarried (P = 0.03) and have no educational qualifications (P = 0.009) but did not differ in employment status. FAs experienced greater health anxiety (P < 0.001), morbid obesity (P = 0.02), pain (P < 0.001) and long-term pathological and ill-defined physical conditions (P < 0.001). FAs had more depression including dysthymia, anxiety and somatoform disorders (all P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Persistent frequent attendance in primary care was associated with poor quality of life and high clinical complexity characterized by diverse and often persistent physical and mental multimorbidity. A brokerage model with GPs working in close liaison with skilled psychological therapists is required to manage such persistent complexity.