The Relationship of Shoulder Girdle Function and Subjective Dysfunction in Perioperative Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of shoulder girdle function and subjective dysfunction in perioperative patients with head and neck cancer. [Subjects] Subjects were 15 perioperative patients with head and neck cancer [13 men and 2 women aged 56.7 ± 11.1 years (mean ± SD)]. [Methods] Range of shoulder abduction, postural alignment in the sagittal plane, acromial distance, cervical flexion, and the Neck Dissection Questionnaire (NDQ) were used to evaluate the subjective dysfunction index. These items were evaluated at three time points: before surgery, 2 weeks after surgery, and 1 month after surgery. [Results] Range of shoulder abduction and acromial distance showed significant differences from before surgery at 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery. In addition, significant correlations were found between acromial distance and most of the NDQ items. [Conclusion] When NDQ is used as an outcome measure for perioperative head and neck cancer patients, the results of this study suggest the necessity of multilateral evaluation including postural alignment in the sagittal plane, in addition to the range of shoulder abduction.