Ding 2018.

Methods	Two‐arm, single‐centre, parallel‐group RCT, with 6 to 12 months of follow‐up
Participants	Location: China Setting of recruitment and treatment: Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Sample size: Number randomised: 200 (106 in intervention, 94 in comparison) Number completed: 200 (106 in intervention, 94 in comparison) Participant (baseline) characteristics: Age: mean 50 years (17 to 70) Gender: 98 males and 103 females Types of parotidectomy: superficial parotidectomy Thickness of skin flap: not stated Inclusion criteria: benign lesions of the parotid gland Exclusion criteria: too large tumours or malignant tumours
Interventions	Intervention group (flap group): superficial parotidectomy + parotid masseter fascia reconstruction Comparator group (no flap group): superficial parotidectomy Use of additional interventions: not stated
Outcomes	Primary outcome: incidence rate of Frey's syndrome assessed clinically (Minor's starch‐iodine test) (assessed at least 6 months after surgery); complications Secondary outcomes: none
Notes	The number of participants was not consistent through this article We could not make contact with the authors to confirm whether randomisation was strictly performed