Shoulder Movement Range Assessment In Mastectomized Women Through Computerized Biophotogrammetry

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to evaluate quantitatively the range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder (flexion, extension, abduction) in mastectomized women comparing with the contralateral side to the surgery, to verify if there is significant limitation of the shoulder movements. Methods: Twenty-nine mastectomized women were analyzed with age ranging from 33 to 80 years. There was at least a 6-month interval between the surgery and this examination. All the patients were in follow up at the breast clinic of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Data was collected in the Laboratory of Analysis of the Movement of the Centro Universitário do Triângulo and analyzed by a range of motion assessment tool: Computerized Biophotogrammetry. The images of the movements were registered as described above quantified at a program named ALCimage 2.1^®. Results: The Wilcoxon Test for statistical analysis was significant (0,05) in a bilateral trial. According to the results, there were significant differences in the flexion movements of the shoulder homolateral to the mastectomy when compared with the contralateral side. Conclusion: Flexion was significantly decreased in the shoulder homolateral to the mastectomy.