Comparison 1. Sternocleidomastoid muscle flap versus no flap.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Incidence rate of Frey's syndrome assessed clinically	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2 Other complications	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 Haematoma	1	36	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.18 [0.09, 50.16]
2.2 Subjective painful or restricted cervical movement	1	36	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.54 [0.14, 2.05]
2.3 Scar spread in cervical region	1	36	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.71 [0.05, 10.54]
3 Incidence rate of Frey's syndrome assessed by participants	1	36	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.63 [0.32, 1.26]