Achievements of physical therapy in patients after modified radical mastectomy compared with quadrantectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation for carcinoma of the breast
H. Gutman, T. Kersz, T. Barzilai, M. Haddad and R. Reiss
Department of Surgery B, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, University.
Flexion of the shoulder, abduction, and external rotation in 90 degrees
abduction are impaired after operations for breast cancer. We compared
postoperative range of motion in 27 patients who underwent modified radical
mastectomy and 21 patients who underwent quadrantectomy with axillary
dissection and radiation therapy. The patients in the quadrantectomy group
demonstrated a significantly higher range of flexion on postoperative day 1
and the day of suture removal. After 3 months, all patients had regained
their preoperative range of flexion, with no difference between the groups.
The better compliance of the quadrantectomy group to physical therapy may
indicate that they suffer less pain and require a briefer or less intensive
course of physical therapy.
