Abstract
Arm dysfunction was evaluated in 37 in-patients and 130 out-patients who had gone a mastectomy. The action range of the shoulder joint, girth of the upper arm and forearm, and grasping power were measured. The patients were interviewed concerning their daily activities.
The results were as follows;
1. Postoperative dysfunctions of shoulder joint flexion, abduction, horizontal adduction and horizontal abduction were observed, but all ranges of motion recovered after one year.
2. In terms of operation method, limitation of flexion, abduction and horizontal adduction was greater in standard mastectomy cases than Patey's cases within 3 weeks after surgery. Abduction was more limited in standard mastectomy cases than in Auchincloss cases after one year.
3. In terms of age, older patients exhibited more shoulder movement limitation than younger ones.
4. Edema of the upper arm appeared in 41% of the patients, but this rate decreased to 24% after one year. Three factors that resulted in increased edema were obesity, extensive surgery, and the presence of advanced cancer. Edema appeared most frequently in patients undergoing radiation therapy.
5. Shoulder joint movement was more limited in patients with edama than in those without it, but the exact relationship between the two is unknown.
6. Grasping power decreased noticeably one week after surgery, but nearly recovered to the preoperative level after 3 weeks.
7. With respect to daily activity, most out-patients were able to resume a normal life-style after 2 weeks.
