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Shoulder Dysfunction Post Spinal Accessory Nerve Preserving Neck Dissections: Our Experience

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Abstract

Apart from complete surgical clearance of the malignancy, reducing morbidity and improving quality of life of the patient is also considered. One of the morbidities linked with neck dissections is shoulder dysfunction. The aim of our study is to analyse the functional outcomes in patients operated for various neck dissections with preservation of the Spinal accessory nerve. A single centre prospective observational study was conducted in a total of 45 patients with oral cancers. These patients underwent Wide local excision of the primary tumour along with neck dissection. Tests for assessing spinal accessory nerve function was elicited in all these patients preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients were examined for shoulder pain and shoulder disability using Arm abduction test. All 45 patients underwent spinal accessory nerve preserving neck dissection. On post operative day 10, 89% of patients showed arm abduction test score of 1 and 47% of patients had a pain score of 6 whereas 13% had a pain score of 8. After 6 months of rehabilitation and regular follow up, 62% of the patients had improved arm abduction test score of 4 and above and all 45 patients had pain score improved to score of 4 and less. Variable amount of shoulder dysfunction is seen even in spinal accessory nerve preserving neck dissections. But active rehabilitation and regular follow up of these patients reduces the morbidity associated with shoulder syndrome.

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Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article. Written, informed and valid consent was taken from all the patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Kshitij Shah, Shivali Patekar, M. Ishwarya, Shrekha Padmakshan & Renuka Bradoo

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  1. Kshitij Shah
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  2. Shivali Patekar
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  3. M. Ishwarya
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  4. Shrekha Padmakshan
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  5. Renuka Bradoo
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Correspondence to Shivali Patekar.

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Shah, K., Patekar, S., Ishwarya, M. et al. Shoulder Dysfunction Post Spinal Accessory Nerve Preserving Neck Dissections: Our Experience. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 75, 675–679 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-022-03393-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-022-03393-7

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