Head and Neck Cancer: Changes in Artrokinematic Parameters of Neck and Swallowing Function after Radiotherapy

Abstract

The study aimed to show the changes on artrokinematic parameters of the neck and swallowing function after radiotherapy (RT) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. The fourty patients with HNC have been evaluated before, 1 and 3 months after RT. The posture, normal joint movement, muscle strength and endurance of the neck were evaluated as artrokinematic parameters. The clinical and radiological swallowing function evaluations were also done. Mean age of patients were 53,22±10,92 years. Head anterior tilt, kyphosis and shoulder protraction were more in the 3rd month after RT in posture analysis (p< 0.001). The neck flexion, lateral flexion and rotation limitations have increased (p< 0.001), neck muscle strength and endurance have gradually decreased (p< 0,001) after RT. At the same time, swallowing phases have been adversely affected after RT with all these side effects (p< 0.001) and the severity of aspiration in all consistencies has increased gradually (p< 0.05). As a result, RT starts to show its negative effects from the early period of cancer treatment. Unlike other studies, we concluded that RT affects head and neck structures negatively and these describes how RT affects swallowing function. So it is highly important to include head and neck structure mobility, strength and endurance assessments and exercises in swallowing rehabilitation.Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Radiotherapy, Swallowing, Neck structures, Dysphagia ÖZET Bafl Boyun Kanseri: Radyoterapi Sonras› Boyun Artrokinematik Parametreleri ve Yutma Fonksiyonundaki De¤iflikliklerÇal›flman›n amac›; bafl boyun kanserli (BBK) hastalarda radyoterapi (RT) sonras› boyun artrokinematik parametreleri ve yutma fonksiyonundaki de¤ifliklikleri göstermektir. BBK'l› 40 hasta RT öncesi, sonras› 1 ve 3. aylarda de¤erlendirildi. Artrokinematik parametreler olarak boyun postür, normal eklem hareketi, kas kuvvet ve endurans› de¤erlendirildi. Klinik ve radyolojik yutma fonksiyon de¤er-lendirmeleri de yap›ld›. Hastalar›n yafl ortalamas› 53,22±10,92 y›ld›. Postür analizinde bafl anterior tilti, kifoz ve omuz protraksiyonu RT sonras› 3. ayda daha fazla idi (p< 0.001). RT sonras› boyun fleksiyon, lateral fleksiyon ve rotasyon limitasyonlar› artt› (p< 0.001), boyun kas kuvvet ve endurans› giderek azald› (p< 0.001). Ayn› zamanda RT sonras› tüm bu yan etkilerle birlikte yutma fazlar› kötü yönde etkilendi (p< 0.001) ve tüm k›vamlarda aspirasyon fliddeti giderek artt› (p< 0.05). Sonuç olarak RT erken dönemden itibaren olumsuz etkilerini göstermeye bafllamaktad›r. Di¤er çal›flmalardan farkl› olarak RT'nin bafl ve boyun yap›lar›n› olumsuz yönde etkiledi¤i ortaya konuldu ve bu da RT'nin yutma fonksiyonunu nas›l etkiledi¤i aç›klamaktad›r. Bu yüzden yutma rehabilitasyonuna bafl boyun yap› hareketlilik, kuvvet ve endurans de¤erlendirme ve egzersizlerini dahil etmek çok önemlidir.