Abstract
Objectives
1) The aim of this paper is to identify the supportive profile of physical therapy attendments at Brazilian National Cancer Institute. 2) Look for patients’ main demands and their dysfunctional characteristics.
Methods
The physiotherapeutic consultations for head and neck cancer patients performed between 02/01/2007 and 12/31/2007 were retrospectively analyzed in their quantitative and qualitative aspects.
Results
1405 attendments were reviewed including 15% of first-time patients. 60% of the consultations were to male patients. The main dysfunctions identified were on accessory nerve (27, 7%), followed by TMJ disorders (27, 6%), breathing complications (10, 6%), and restricted neck movement (10, 5%). The less frequent complications were paresis of facial nerve mandibular branch (4, 7%) and donor site dysfunctions (2, 5%). Pain was a complaint present in 39 (7%) of these attendments, and analgesia was responsible for 21 (2%) of the total procedures performed. In 24% of realized consults, 3 or more procedures were necessary, representing multiple dysfunctions on each patient.
Conclusions
Secondary dysfunctions caused by head and neck cancer and/or its indicated treatment are important and quite frequent. Shoulder and TMJ dysfunctions as well as breathing disorders were the most frequent complications observed. Pain was seen in a significant number of patients under physical therapy. Patients’ total care has the intention of preventing known complications, and to allow early rehabilitation and sequelae management of installed dysfunctions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.