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Modified Radical Neck Dissection for Cervical Metastasis
Published on: February 20, 2026
Shoulder function in patients undergoing selective neck dissection with or without radiation and chemotherapy
Jeremy P Watkins1, Glenn B Williams, Anthony A Mascioli
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Head & Neck
|April 13, 2011
Summary
Selective neck dissection negatively impacts shoulder function in upper aerodigestive tract cancer patients. Adjuvant therapies like radiotherapy or chemotherapy do not worsen this shoulder dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Reconstructive Surgery
Background:
- Treatment for upper aerodigestive tract carcinoma can impair shoulder function.
- Selective neck dissection (SND) is a common surgical procedure for these cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of SND, alone or with adjuvant therapies, on shoulder function.
- To determine if radiotherapy or chemotherapy exacerbates shoulder dysfunction post-SND.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of adult patients over 6 months post-therapy.
- Exclusion criteria included recurrent disease and flap reconstruction.
- Shoulder function assessed using the modified Constant's score.
Main Results:
- Operated shoulder function was significantly decreased compared to the nonoperated shoulder (p < .001).
- No statistical difference in shoulder function scores was found between SND alone, SND plus radiation, or SND plus chemoradiation.
- Thirty-four patients (42 SNDs) were included in the analysis.
Conclusions:
- Selective neck dissection negatively affects shoulder function, even with spinal accessory nerve preservation.
- Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy do not appear to cause additional detriment to shoulder function after SND.
