Impact of shoulder complaints after neck dissection on shoulder disability and quality of life

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>To explore relationships between shoulder complaints after neck dissection, shoulder disability, and quality of life. To find clinical predictors for mid- to long-term shoulder disability.<h4>Study design</h4>Prospective.<h4>Patients and methods</h4>Shoulder pain, shoulder mobility, and shoulder droop, as well as scores on shoulder disability questionnaire and RAND-36 (quality of life), were measured at baseline, discharge (T1), and 4 months postoperatively (T2) on 139 patients admitted for neck dissection to major head and neck centers in the Netherlands.<h4>Results</h4>Shoulder mobility was significantly decreased at T1 and did not improve. Significant relationships between shoulder function, shoulder disability score, and RAND-36 domains were found. Two clusters of clinical symptoms could be identified as independent predictors for shoulder disability.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Objective deterioration in shoulder function after neck dissection is associated with perceived shoulder disability and related to physical functioning and bodily pain. Predictors for shoulder disability can be found.