ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the mobility, pain, and disability of the shoulders after different pulmonary surgical procedures.It is a cross-sectional prospective study. A total of 38 patients who underwent lung surgery via thoracotomy (mean ageâ=â57â±â10 years) were evaluated in the preoperative period, and first and second postoperative days were assessed for range of motion of shoulder; pain intensity; and application of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index questionnaire. This study compared the 3 days of evaluation, and the subgroups according to the resection area (biopsy/nodulectomy, lung segmentectomy and lobectomy).There was a decrease of flexion (153°â±â16°-98°â±â23°), abduction (151°â±â20°-126°â±â38°), and increased Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (2.4-44.3) in the shoulder ipsilateral to surgery from the preoperative to the first postoperative day (Pâ<â0.05). There was a greater loss of ipsilateral flexion and abduction in the lobectomy subgroup (Pâ<â0.05), and decreased abduction of the contralateral shoulder in the lung segmentectomy and lobectomy subgroups (Pâ<â0.05).After pulmonary surgery, there is bilateral impairment in shoulder range of motion, with greater limitation on ipsilateral shoulder, and larger resections.
