title: Scoping review of the literature on shoulder impairments and disability after neck dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this article was to provide a review of the literature on shoulder disability after neck dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was performed using Ovid Medline and Embase databases. A total of 306 abstracts and 78 full-text articles were reviewed. Forty-two articles were eligible for inclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients undergoing nerve-sacrifice neck dissections have greater disability and lower quality of life scores than those undergoing neck dissections with the least manipulation (ie, selective neck dissections). Shoulder impairments can still occur in patients undergoing selective neck dissections. Disability typically improves over time in patients undergoing nerve-sparing neck dissections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was significant variability in the literature in terms of the prevalence and recovery of shoulder morbidity after neck dissection. This variability may not just be related to surgical technique or rehabilitation, but also to study design, definitions, and the variability in disability questionnaires used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Jolie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ringash
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bissada
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jaquet
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irish
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chepeha
authors.forename: Aileen M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D014943:Global Health; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: head and neck cancer; literature review; neck dissection; shoulder disability