Early Versus Delayed Shoulder Motion Following Axillary Dissection

Abstract

The role and timing of physical therapy following axillary dissection for melanoma, or in conjunction with modified radical mastectomy has not been extensively studied. A prospective randomized clinical trial was carried out over an 18-month period in the Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Center, in which patients were assigned to receive one of two post-operative physical therapy regimens. Patients were assigned to receive graduated increases in allowed range of motion (ROM), either beginning on postoperative day 1 (early) or day 7 (delayed). All patients were advanced to full pain-free ROM when the suction catheters were removed. A total of 36 patients with 40 axillary dissections (19 for melanoma, 21 for breast cancer) were included in this study. Patients randomized to receive early motion had more total wound drainage (805 ± 516 cc vs. 420 ± 301 cc, p