Musculoskeletal neck disorders in thyroid cancer patients after thyroidectomy

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common type of cancer in the endocrine system, and thyroidectomy is the preferred treatment. Complications associated are still common and 80% of patients complain of posterior neck pain. The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term musculoskeletal disorders in TC patients who had undergone thyroidectomy. An observational case-control study was carried out. Twenty-eight patients who had undergone thyroidectomy and 28 healthy control patients were included. Outcomes were collected 6 months after surgery and included: musculoskeletal neck disorders (neck range of movement, trigger points) and functional variables (pain intensity and disability). Significant differences were found between groups in flexion (p = 0.002) and extension (p = 0.005), with lower values in the thyroidectomy group. The number of trigger points was higher in the thyroidectomy group in both scalenes (p < 0.001), both sternocleidomastoids (p < 0.001), both upper trapezius (p = 0.005 and p = 0.008), right levator scapulae (p = 0.002) and both suboccipitalis (p = 0.002). Pain intensity (p < 0.001) and the Neck Outcome Scale subscales (p < 0.05) also presented significant differences. Thyroidectomy patients, 6 months after surgery, show a significant decrease in neck range of movement and an increase in the number of trigger points. They also show greater pain intensity and more disability.