Physiotherapy on the Complications of Head and Neck Cancer: Retrospective Study

Introduction: Physiotherapy has an important role in cancer rehabilitation, particularly with the head and neck cancer patients, in an attempt to minimize the morbidities caused by the disease and its treatment. Objective: To determine the role of physiotherapy treatment in morbidities of head and neck cancer, in a retrospective investigation, at one oncologic hospital. Materials and methods: Retrospective study based on the analysis of medical records of 32 patients treated at the outpatient Physiotherapy department at the Brazilian Institute of Cancer Control (IBCC), from August 2008 to July 2010. Results: Twenty-nine medical records were evaluated, 86.2% were males with cancer in the oral cavity (41.4%) that had radical neck dissection (69%) and radiotherapy (86.2%), evolving with lymphedema (89.7%), pain (82.8%), normotrophic scar (65.5%), tissue adherence (27.6%) and hypoesthesia (51.7%). The physiotherapeutic treatment included: manual lymphatic drainage (89.7%), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS; 51.7%), mechanical massage therapy (37.9%), stretching exercises (79.3%) and patient education (100%). The results showed a reduction of pain and lymphedema, increased normotrophic scars and normoesthesia, with an average of 19.3 ± 14.5 sessions and treatment discharge of 65.5%. Conclusion: Physical therapy in morbidities of head and neck cancer was effective in reducing pain and lymphedema, combining manual lymphatic drainage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), mechanical massage therapy, stretching exercises and patient education, with an average of 19 sessions and discharge after treatment.