Megumi Ozeki

Abstract Purpose To evaluate factors influencing the range of motion (ROM) in shoulder flexion and abduction, which are often compromised by postoperative conditions, including pain, soft tissue damage, and muscle weakness, 1 month after breast cancer surgery in patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Methods In this retrospective study, the electronic medical database of a university hospital was searched for patients who underwent inpatient rehabilitation following breast cancer surgery between May 2014 and April 2020. The extracted data included age, sex, affected side, body mass index, number of nodes removed, levels of axillary lymph nodes, type of mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, duration of postoperative drain placement, and length of hospital stay after the surgery. Passive shoulder joint ROM was examined before and 1 month after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to explore the prevalence of and factors associated with the presence of shoulder joint ROM limitations 1 month after surgery. Results This study enrolled 258 patients. A total of 210 participants (81.4%) had shoulder ROM limitation after the surgery. Shoulder flexion and abduction ROM decreased after surgery by an average of 31.3° and 35.9°, respectively. Age, number of nodes removed, and total mastectomy were significantly associated with shoulder joint ROM limitation after surgery. Conclusion Over 80% of participants had reduced shoulder ROM 1 month after surgery, even after inpatient rehabilitation. We identified age, number of nodes removed, and total mastectomy as risk factors for reduced shoulder ROM, providing useful prognostic information regarding the restriction of passive shoulder ROM after breast cancer surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate factors influencing the range of motion (ROM) in shoulder flexion and abduction, which are often compromised by postoperative conditions, including pain, soft tissue damage, and muscle weakness, 1 month after breast cancer surgery in patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the electronic medical database of a university hospital was searched for patients who underwent inpatient rehabilitation following breast cancer surgery between May 2014 and April 2020. The extracted data included age, sex, affected side, body mass index, number of nodes removed, levels of axillary lymph nodes, type of mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, duration of postoperative drain placement, and length of hospital stay after the surgery. Passive shoulder joint ROM was examined before and 1 month after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to explore the prevalence of and factors associated with the presence of shoulder joint ROM limitations 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: This study enrolled 258 patients. A total of 210 participants (81.4%) had shoulder ROM limitation after the surgery. Shoulder flexion and abduction ROM decreased after surgery by an average of 31.3° and 35.9°, respectively. Age, number of nodes removed, and total mastectomy were significantly associated with shoulder joint ROM limitation after surgery. CONCLUSION: Over 80% of participants had reduced shoulder ROM 1 month after surgery, even after inpatient rehabilitation. We identified age, number of nodes removed, and total mastectomy as risk factors for reduced shoulder ROM, providing useful prognostic information regarding the restriction of passive shoulder ROM after breast cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: The chin-down posture is often used as a compensatory manoeuvre for patients with dysphagia. This posture presumably involves flexion of the head and/or neck, but this is not clearly defined. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effects of head flexion posture in a retrospective study of videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF). METHODS: A total of 73 patients who underwent VF both with and without head flexion posture in the lateral projection were included in the analysis. The head and neck angles at the initiation of the swallowing reflex, penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), nasopharyngeal closure time, stage transition duration, duration of laryngeal closure, time from swallowing reflex to laryngeal closure and to the opening of upper oesophageal sphincter (UES), duration of UES opening, location of the bolus leading edge at swallowing reflex, and bolus transition time were evaluated. RESULTS: The head flexion angle increased (p < 0.001), but the neck flexion angle did not change in the head flexion posture. Moreover, PAS improved (p < 0.001), aspiration was reduced (p < 0.001), the time between the swallowing reflex and the onset of laryngeal closure was shortened (p = 0.006), and the leading edge of the bolus at swallowing reflex became shallower (p = 0.004) in the head flexion posture. Other parameters did not significantly change. CONCLUSION: The head flexion posture resulted in earlier laryngeal closure and a shallower position of the leading bolus edge at swallowing reflex, resulting in PAS improvement and decreased aspiration.