Shoulder function after thoracic surgery

Thoracic procedures are considered to be among the most painful surgical incisions and are associated with considerable postoperative pain and shoulder dysfunction, severely affecting mobility and activities of daily living. Improper patient positioning, muscle division, perioperative nerve injury, rib spreading, and consequent postoperative pain influence the patient's postoperative shoulder function and quality of life. To reduce access trauma and postoperative morbidity, various alternative modalities have been proposed to replace the standard PLT, including muscle-sparing techniques and VATS. Initial evaluations suggest that these alternatives are associated with significantly better postoperative shoulder function. Proper comparative studies using standardized questionnaires, objective evaluations, or quality-of-life assessments are scarce, however. Proper postoperative care, including early mobilization and effective physiotherapy, is a cornerstone in successful patient rehabilitation and rapid return to normal daily activities. Whether upper extremity exercises can contribute to improvement in postoperative shoulder function and the ability to perform activities of daily living needs to be studied further.