Upper limb dysfunction following selective neck dissection: a retrospective questionnaire study.
BACKGROUND
To determine total upper limb function following selective neck dissection over a mean follow-up of 1.6 years.


METHODS
A retrospective questionnaire study in a tertiary head and neck surgical unit. One hundred forty-eight patients who underwent selective neck dissection for head and neck cancer from January 2000 to December 2005 were invited to participate. The main outcome measure was ipsilateral upper limb dysfunction as measured by the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.


RESULTS
Sixty-five patients responded to the invitation to join the study from 148 invited. Despite accessory nerve conserving surgery for all the selective neck dissections studied, 23% reported no upper limb dysfunction, 54% reported mild upper limb dysfunction, 15% reported moderate, and 8% reported a severe dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term upper limb dysfunction is common following nerve preserving surgery. The DASH questionnaire is a useful preoperative and postoperative clinical tool for those patients undergoing selective neck dissections.
Carr
Simon D
SD
ENT Department, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom. simon_carr@hotmail.com
Bowyer
Duncan
D
Cox
Graham
G
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology