title: Achievements of physical therapy in patients after modified radical mastectomy compared with quadrantectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation for carcinoma of the breast.
abstract: Flexion of the shoulder, abduction, and external rotation in 90 degrees abduction are impaired after operations for breast cancer. We compared postoperative range of motion in 27 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy and 21 patients who underwent quadrantectomy with axillary dissection and radiation therapy. The patients in the quadrantectomy group demonstrated a significantly higher range of flexion on postoperative day 1 and the day of suture removal. After 3 months, all patients had regained their preoperative range of flexion, with no difference between the groups. The better compliance of the quadrantectomy group to physical therapy may indicate that they suffer less pain and require a briefer or less intensive course of physical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery B, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, University.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gutman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kersz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barzilai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies