title: Acupuncture in shoulder pain and functional impairment after neck dissection: A prospective randomized pilot study.
abstract: The efficacy of conventional physiotherapy and antiinflammatory/analgesic drugs in the management of shoulder pain and functional disability following neck dissection is often disappointing. Acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated method. We report the results regarding our pilot trial of acupuncture versus conventional care in the management of postoperative shoulder pain and dysfunction after neck dissection.
  
  
  
  Pilot study.
  
  
  
  Patients at a tertiary university center with chronic pain or dysfunction attributed to neck dissection were randomly assigned to either weekly acupuncture or usual care (eg., physical therapy, analgesia, and/or antiinflammatory drugs) for 5 consecutive weeks. The Constant-Murley score, a composite measure of pain, function, and activities of daily living, was the primary outcome measure. As secondary end point, The Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) was used to quantify site-specific, self-reported quality of life (QOL).
  
  
  
  After randomization, 48 patients completed the study (23 and 25 patients on acupuncture and control arms, respectively). Constant-Murley scores improved more in the acupuncture group (gain difference between groups 13.6, P < 0.01), a statistically significant improvement in site-specific QOL was also recorded at NDII (gain difference between groups 11.5, P < 0.01).
  
  
  
  Acupuncture is safe and effective; it should be introduced and offered to patients suffering from neck pain and dysfunction related to neck dissection.
  
  
  
  2b. Laryngoscope, 126:1790-1795, 2016.
authors.affiliation: 1st Clinic of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deganello
authors.affiliation: 1st Clinic of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Battat
authors.affiliation: 1st Clinic of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.affiliation: 1st Clinic of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Glauco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cristofaro
authors.affiliation: 1st Clinic of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buongiorno
authors.affiliation: 1st Clinic of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuditta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mannelli
authors.affiliation: University of Florence, Florence; and the Acupuncture, Sinergie Center, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giachetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borsotti
authors.affiliation: 1st Clinic of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Oreste
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Acupuncture; neck disability; neck dissection; neck pain; shoulder dysfunction; shoulder syndrome