Effect of functional neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy on the spinal accessory nerve.
CONCLUSIONS
We encountered shoulder syndrome after functional neck dissection (FND) less frequently than reported in the literature. This technique is a favorable treatment choice for appropriately selected patients with head and neck cancer with cervical metastasis. It depends on careful dissection of neurovascular tissues during surgery and preserved shoulder function due to chronic neurological degeneration caused by surgery. Also, radiotherapy has an evident negative effect on the accessory nerve.


OBJECTIVE
To perform postoperative electrophysiological tests on the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) after FND and postoperative radiotherapy.


METHODS
A study group of 16 patients with head and neck cancer who underwent 22 FNDs and 10 volunteers in the control group were evaluated. The SAN latency and amplitude were measured and then upper trapezius muscle electromyography (EMG) was performed on all the patients and the volunteers.


RESULTS
The EMG results of the study group revealed 19 cases with normal findings, 1 with total and 2 with partial axonal degeneration. The amplitude levels of the SAN in the study group showed statistically significant decrease when compared with the control group. The latency levels of the SAN in the four patients who received postoperative radiotherapy were significantly longer than those in cases who did not receive this therapy.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Haydarpasa, State Hospital for Research and Training, Istanbul, Turkey. karaman1398@yahoo.com
Murat
M
Karaman
Arman
A
Tek
Celil
C
Uslu
Davut
D
Akduman
Omer
O
Bilaç
D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome