Venturing Out on a Limb: Axillary Web Syndrome

Buum, Heather A. Thompson; Koehler, Linda A; Tuttle, Todd M.

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.12.016

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…Based on our experience and results from several other studies,4,14,15,17,20,27–31 physical therapy is recommended as a safe and effective primary treatment for AWS. These studies support the hypothesis that physical therapy resolves cording more rapidly than no treatment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Axillary web syndrome following breast cancer surgery: symptoms, complications, and management strategies

Koehler¹,

Haddad²,

Hunter³

et al. 2018

BCTT

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Axillary web syndrome (AWS) is a common condition occurring in up to 86% of patients following breast cancer surgery with ipsilateral lymphadenectomy of one or more nodes. AWS presents as a single cord or multiple thin cords in the subcutaneous tissues of the ipsilateral axilla. The cords may extend variable distances “down” the ipsilateral arm and/or chest wall. The cords frequently result in painful shoulder abduction and limited shoulder range of motion. AWS most frequently becomes symptomatic between 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively but can also develop and recur months to years after surgery. Education about and increased awareness of AWS should be promoted for patients and caregivers. Assessments for AWS should be performed on a regular basis following breast cancer surgery especially if there has been associated lymphadenectomy. Physical therapy, which consists of manual therapy, exercise, education, and other rehabilitation modalities to improve range of motion and decrease pain, is recommended in the treatment of AWS.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Axillary web syndrome following breast cancer surgery: symptoms, complications, and management strategies

Koehler¹,

Haddad²,

Hunter³

et al. 2018

BCTT

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“…However, emerging data have demonstrated that AWS may persist longer than 12 weeks post surgery, and may even be diagnosed on follow-up after 18 months [23,26]. AWS is increasing being diagnosed in the postoperative rehabilitative setting, and it is important to understand the prevalence of AWS, so as to develop survivorship guidelines for patients with breast cancer in order to enable more effective social reintegration of patients and to limit surgical sequelae [27][28][29][30]. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associations for AWS in post-operative breast cancer patients up to 3 years after surgery in an outpatient community cancer rehabilitation program.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program

Tay

Wong

2021

BMC Cancer

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Background Patients who have breast cancer surgery are at risk of axillary web syndrome (AWS), an under-recognized postsurgical complication which can result in shoulder morbidity and functional impairment. Emerging studies have indicated that AWS may persist beyond the first few months after surgery, although few studies have assessed the prevalence and association of AWS beyond a year after diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associations for AWS in post-operative breast cancer patients up to 3 years after surgery. Methods This cross sectional observational study was conducted at a community-based cancer rehabilitation center. Patients were evaluated for the presence of AWS via physical examination. Disease-related data was obtained from clinical review and medical records. Descriptive statistics were utilized to illustrate patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations of AWS. Results There were 111 Asian women who were recruited, who had undergone breast surgery and were referred to a national outpatient rehabilitation center. The prevalence of AWS in this population was 28.9%. In the multivariate regression model, significant factors were age < 50 years (OR = 3.51; 95% CI = 1.12–11.0; p = 0.031) and ALND (OR = 6.54; 95% CI = 1.36–31.3; p = 0.019). There was reduced shoulder flexion ROM (p < 0.001) in patients with AWS compared to patients without AWS. Conclusions A high prevalence of AWS was reported in breast cancer survivors even at 3 years after breast surgery. Our findings highlight the need to identify breast cancer survivors with AWS even in the survivorship phase, and develop strategies to raise awareness and minimize functional impairment in these patients.

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Five-Year Cumulative Incidence of Axillary Web Syndrome and Comparison in Upper Extremity Movement, Function, Pain, and Lymphedema in Survivors of Breast Cancer With and Without Axillary Web Syndrome

Koehler

Day

Hunter

et al. 2022

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

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Venturing Out on a Limb: Axillary Web Syndrome

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

Axillary web syndrome following breast cancer surgery: symptoms, complications, and management strategies

Axillary web syndrome following breast cancer surgery: symptoms, complications, and management strategies

Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program

Five-Year Cumulative Incidence of Axillary Web Syndrome and Comparison in Upper Extremity Movement, Function, Pain, and Lymphedema in Survivors of Breast Cancer With and Without Axillary Web Syndrome

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