Management and Prognosis of Physical Therapy for the Post-Surgical Sequelae of Metastatic Cervical Lymphadenopathy

A common secondary complication of oral malignant carcinoma is metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy. The condition is typically treated surgically, with the affected cervical lymph nodes excised, followed by pharmacological treatment. However, additional complications such as asymmetry of facial feat...

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Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 14; no. 8
Main Authors Saifee, Sakina S, Patil, Shubhangi P, Thorat, Rupali B, Lalwani, Shivani S, Lakkadsha, Tasneem M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Palo Alto Cureus Inc 04.08.2022
Cureus
Subjects
Asymmetry
Cancer
Case reports
Edema
Lymphatic system
Medical prognosis
Metastasis
Mobility
Mouth
Oncology
Oral cancer
Palliative Care
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Physical therapy
Radiation
Range of motion
Rehabilitation
Squamous cell carcinoma
Stretching
Surgery
Thyroid gland
Tongue
Ultrasonic imaging
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Summary:A common secondary complication of oral malignant carcinoma is metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy. The condition is typically treated surgically, with the affected cervical lymph nodes excised, followed by pharmacological treatment. However, additional complications such as asymmetry of facial features, reduced mouth opening, adhesions in sutured tissues, and so on accompany surgical management. This case report describes a case of an adult male who underwent surgery for metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy caused by previous squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa. To address the surgical outcomes that were affecting the patient's quality of life, an integrated physiotherapy management protocol was developed and efficiently followed for three weeks. Improvements in mouth opening, tongue movement, cervical joint movement, chest movement, and the Oral Health Impact Profile quality of life questionnaire were observed at the three-week evaluation, indicating that the intended therapy was effective.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.27673