Preservation of the accessory nerve in block dissection of the neck.

The signs and symptoms resulting from division of the accessory nerve are discussed. The anatomical arguments for conservative neck dissection are also described. A method of preserving the nerve during radical neck dissection is described. A comparison of the symptomatology and functional results of two groups of patients follows, one group having had preservation and the other having had conventional neck dissection. It was shown that the group with conservative neck dissection had no symptomatic or functional abnormalities.