[The neck after radical neck-dissection. A follow-up study (author's transl)]

In 200 patients with uni- or bilateral neck dissections the long range cosmetic results, subjective complaints, and the neurologic status were studied at postoperative time intervals between 3 months and 10 years. The main disorders were related to both the absence of resected, tumor-involved structures and to hyperesthesia of the lateral neck skin. The function of the muscle portions of the shoulder was less disturbed than expected, and recovered with some time and training. Cases with bilateral neck dissections showed postoperative edema of the head, being resorbed, with a little persisting submental edema. Postoperative irradiation gave rise to an increasing number of neuralgiform symptoms.