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Maximizing shoulder function after accessory nerve injury and neck dissection surgery: A multicenter randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
McGarvey Aoife C.,
Hoffman Gary R.,
Osmotherly Peter G.,
Chiarelli Pauline E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.23712
Subject(s) - medicine , shoulders , randomized controlled trial , confidence interval , surgery , neck dissection , scapula , physical therapy , accessory nerve , carcinoma
Background Shoulder pain and dysfunction after neck dissection may result from injury to the accessory nerve. The effect of early physical therapy in the form of intensive scapular strengthening exercises is unknown. Methods A total of 59 neck dissection participants were prospectively recruited for this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group ( n = 32), consisting of progressive scapular strengthening exercises for 12 weeks, or the control group ( n = 29). Blinded assessment occurred at baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results Three‐month data were collected on 52 participants/53 shoulders. Per‐protocol analysis demonstrated that the intervention group had statistically significantly higher active shoulder abduction at 3 months compared to the control group (+26.6°; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.28–45.95; p = .007). Conclusion The intervention is a favorable treatment for maximizing shoulder abduction in the short term. The effect of the intervention compared to usual care is uncertain in the longer term. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1022–1031, 2015