Angela A Colback, Daniel V Arkfeld, Alireza Paydar, Osama Raslan, Daniel J Cates, Marianne Abouyared
{"title":"Sarcopenia may predict recurrence in patients with head and neck cancer.","authors":"Angela A Colback, Daniel V Arkfeld, Alireza Paydar, Osama Raslan, Daniel J Cates, Marianne Abouyared","doi":"10.1002/hed.27903","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27903","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malnutrition is a major consequence of head and neck cancer (HNC), often leading to decreased skeletal muscle mass and impacting survival. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of sarcopenia, as defined by skeletal muscle index (SMI), on survival in patients with HNC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective review of patients with HNC treated with surgery and/or radiation at a single tertiary care institute. All had pre-treatment imaging available for skeletal muscle index (SMI) measurements, and SMI was calculated at the level of the 3rd cervical vertebra. Sarcopenia was defined as an SMI < 41 cm<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>2</sup> in females and as <43 cm<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>2</sup> in underweight or healthy weight males. Sarcopenia was defined as <53 cm<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>2</sup> in overweight or obese males. Chi-square analysis was performed to compare recurrence and survival rates, and survival analysis was performed via Kaplan-Meir curve.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hundred and twelve patients with HNC were evaluated, 84 men and 28 women with an average age of 60.9 years. Tumors were primarily located in the oral cavity (24.1%) and oropharynx (42%). The majority (69.6%) underwent surgery. Mean body mass index prior to treatment was 28. Sixty-nine patients (61.6%) in our cohort had low SMI. Mean follow-up was 3.9 ± 2.2 years. Recurrence rate was 26% in those with low SMI versus 2% in those without. Patients with low SMI were more likely to have a recurrence (p = 0.02). Overall survival was 72.5% in those with low SMI and 81% in those with normal SMI (p = 0.09).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Defining sarcopenia as a low skeletal muscle index at the third cervical vertebra is clinically relevant. This study demonstrates that low SMI at this level, and thus sarcopenia, was strongly associated with higher rates of recurrence.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141977312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Einav G Levin, Amit Ritter, Gideon Bachar, Aviram Mizrachi, Hagit Shoffel-Havakuk, Noga Kurman, Aron Popovtzer, Yaniv Hamzany
{"title":"Management of laryngeal chondroradionecrosis: A single-center experience.","authors":"Einav G Levin, Amit Ritter, Gideon Bachar, Aviram Mizrachi, Hagit Shoffel-Havakuk, Noga Kurman, Aron Popovtzer, Yaniv Hamzany","doi":"10.1002/hed.27919","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27919","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Laryngeal chondroradionecrosis (LCRN) is a rare but severe complication of radiation therapy. The study aimed to review the management of LCRN and evaluate the clinical benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed all radiation-induced LCRN patients between 2006 and 2019 at a tertiary medical center. Diagnosis was based on signs and symptoms of Chandler's classification, imaging, and/or histopathology report. The primary outcome was improvement in Chandler's grade after HBOT.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 678 irradiated laryngeal cancer patients, 29 (4.3%) were diagnosed with LCRN. The most common primary management was tracheostomy with intravenous steroids and antibiotics (59%). Ten patients received HBOT (34.5%), and six underwent total laryngectomy (21%). In HBOT-treated patients, Chandler's grade significantly improved from a median of 4 (range 2-4) to 2.5 (range 1-4; p = 0.005).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HBOT may benefit in the management of patients with persistence and unresponsive symptoms of LCRN following radiation therapy for laryngeal SCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141977310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Viraj M. Patel MD, Saad M. Alshammari MBBS, David W. Jang MD, Ali R. Zomorodi MD, Ralph Abi Hachem MD, MSc
{"title":"The lateral based nasopharyngeal flap: A novel vascularized flap for skull base reconstruction","authors":"Viraj M. Patel MD, Saad M. Alshammari MBBS, David W. Jang MD, Ali R. Zomorodi MD, Ralph Abi Hachem MD, MSc","doi":"10.1002/hed.27911","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hed.27911","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As the indications for endoscopic skull base approaches have increased, so has the need for more versatile vascularized flaps for skull base reconstruction. Here, we describe a novel lateral based nasopharyngeal flap (LNPF). Two cadaver heads were dissected to elucidate flap anatomy, dimensions, and technique. A retrospective review was performed on two cases where LNPF was used to repair CSF leaks in the nasopharyngeal area, and outcomes reported. The LNPF is an ascending pharyngeal artery myomucosal flap that includes the nasopharyngeal mucosa and the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. The flap was 1.2 × 2.2 cm in greatest dimensions. The LNPF was used for salvage CSF leak repair in two cases: one clival and one tubal. Both patients had resolution of leak at 7 months follow-up. The LNPF is a novel flap with reconstruction potential for the nasopharynx, including the lower clivus and the eustachian tube.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141918172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Virós Porcuna MD, PhD, Carlos M. Pollán Guisasola MD, Constanza Viña Soria MD, Pablo Vergés Fort MD, Mar Palau Viarnès MD, Luis Juesas Iglesias MD, Armando De Virgilio MD, PhD
{"title":"Transoral robotic parapharyngeal space dissection","authors":"David Virós Porcuna MD, PhD, Carlos M. Pollán Guisasola MD, Constanza Viña Soria MD, Pablo Vergés Fort MD, Mar Palau Viarnès MD, Luis Juesas Iglesias MD, Armando De Virgilio MD, PhD","doi":"10.1002/hed.27902","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hed.27902","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) provides a minimally invasive approach to address tumors in selected and challenging anatomical locations. Among the critical areas where TORS demonstrates its prowess is the oropharynx. Oropharyngeal tumors can invade parapharyngeal space (PPS) which contains vital structures such as the carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and cranial nerves IX–XII. A deeper understanding of the endoscopic anatomy of the parapharyngeal space could reduce the morbidity associated with tumor resection in this dense neurovascular area. This video-article provides a step-by-step cadaveric dissection of the lower PPS though a transoral robotic approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141918184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lachnoclostridium intestinal flora is associated with immunotherapy efficacy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.","authors":"Zikun Yu, Qin Wang, Zimeng Wang, Sihan Liu, Tianliang Xia, Chongyang Duan, Youping Liu, Xi Ding, Siyuan Chen, Tao Yu, Rui You, Mingyuan Chen, Peiyu Huang","doi":"10.1002/hed.27917","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27917","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Effective biomarkers for assessing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy efficacy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are still lacking. The human gut microbiota has been shown to influence clinical response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in many cancers. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma has not been determined.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a prospective study in which fecal and blood samples from patients with NPC were subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing and survival analysis. To investigate potential differences in the gut microbiome between these groups and to identify potential biomarkers indicative of immunotherapy efficacy, patients were categorized into two groups according to their clinical response to immunotherapy, the responder group (R group) and the non-responder group (NR group). Progression-free survival (PFS) between these subgroups was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with the log-rank test. Additionally, we performed univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate prognostic factors. Finally, we carried out non-targeted metabolomics to examine the metabolic effects associated with the identified microbiome.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that the abundance of Lachnoclostridium was higher in the NR group than in the R group (p = 0.003), and alpha diversity analysis showed that the abundance of microbiota in the NR group was higher than that in the R group (p = 0.050). Patients with a lower abundance of Lachnoclostridium had better PFS (p = 0.048). Univariate (p = 0.017) and multivariate analysis (p = 0.040) showed that Lachnoclostridium was a predictor of PFS. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that Lachnoclostridium affects the efficacy of immunotherapy through the usnic acid.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High abundance of Lachnoclostridium predicts poor prognosis in patients with NPC receiving immunotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141972331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mecapegfilgrastim for the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A prospective phase II clinical study.","authors":"Qifeng Jin, Yonghong Hua, Ting Jin, Lei Wang, Changjuan Tao, Shuang Huang, Weifeng Qin, Xiaozhong Chen","doi":"10.1002/hed.27897","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27897","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Induction chemotherapy of docetaxel plus cisplatin (TP) is myelosuppressive, leading to severe neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (FN). Herein, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of mecapegfilgrastim in the prevention of neutropenia in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received the TP regimen.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 30 treatment-naive patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included in this study. Mecapegfilgrastim 6 mg was injected 24-48 h after the completion of induction chemotherapy with the TP regimen.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of grade ≥3 neutropenia during the three induction chemotherapy cycles was 6.7% (95% CI, 0.8%-22.1%). In the first cycle of chemotherapy, the incidence of grade ≥3 neutropenia was 3.3% (95% CI, 0.1%-17.2%). No FN or antibiotic usage was reported. All 30 patients completed the induction chemotherapy cycles.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mecapegfilgrastim effectively reduced the incidence of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and FN in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141918171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ardalan Ebrahimi, Ruta Gupta, Lachlan McDowell, Matthew J R Magarey, Paul N Smith, Klaus-Martin Schulte, Diana M Perriman, Michael Veness, Sandro Porceddu, Tsu-Hui Hubert Low, Allan Fowler, Jonathan R Clark
{"title":"Predictors of distant metastatic recurrence in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases treated with curative intent: A multicenter study.","authors":"Ardalan Ebrahimi, Ruta Gupta, Lachlan McDowell, Matthew J R Magarey, Paul N Smith, Klaus-Martin Schulte, Diana M Perriman, Michael Veness, Sandro Porceddu, Tsu-Hui Hubert Low, Allan Fowler, Jonathan R Clark","doi":"10.1002/hed.27912","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27912","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We aimed to identify predictors of distant metastatic recurrence (DMR) in patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (HNcSCC) with nodal metastases treated with curative intent.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Predictors of DMR were identified using Cox regression in a multicenter study of 1151 patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 5-year risk of DMR was 9.6%. On multivariate analysis, immunosuppression (HR 2.93; 95% CI: 1.70-5.05; p < 0.001), nodal size >6 cm [versus ≤3 cm (HR 2.77; 95% CI: 1.09-7.03; p = 0.032)], ≥5 nodal metastases [versus 1-2 (HR 2.79; 95% CI: 1.63-4.78; p < 0.001)], and bilateral disease (HR 3.11; 95% CI: 1.40-6.90; p = 0.005) predicted DMR. A DMR risk score was developed that stratified risk from 6.6% (no risk factors) to 100% (≥3 risk factors) (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The risk of DMR in nodal metastatic HNcSCC increases with immunosuppression, nodal size >6 cm, ≥5 nodal metastases, and bilateral disease. A simple DMR risk score estimated prior to treatment may be clinically useful.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141908388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samuel M Vorbach, Thomas Seppi, Manuel P Sarcletti, Siegfried Kollotzek, Julian Mangesius, Jens Lehmann, David Riedl, Martin J Pointner, Matthias Santer, Daniel Dejaco, Meinhard Nevinny-Stickel, Ute Ganswindt
{"title":"A novel prognostic score (HAMP) for head and neck cancer patients with single and multiple SBRT-treated lung metastases derived from retrospective analyses of survival outcome.","authors":"Samuel M Vorbach, Thomas Seppi, Manuel P Sarcletti, Siegfried Kollotzek, Julian Mangesius, Jens Lehmann, David Riedl, Martin J Pointner, Matthias Santer, Daniel Dejaco, Meinhard Nevinny-Stickel, Ute Ganswindt","doi":"10.1002/hed.27913","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27913","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We report on the characterization and introduction of a novel prognostic score for patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for the treatment of single and multiple pulmonary metastases (PMs) derived from head and neck cancer (HNC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective study, we examined selected factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among 59 patients with HNC treated with SBRT for a total of 118 PMs, between 2009 and 2023. Factors related to survival were included in the prognostic scoring system.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Prognostic factors including histology, age, number of metastases, and performance status at first SBRT were weighted differently depending on the strength of correlation to PFS and OS. Total prognostic scores (HAMP) ranged from 13 to 24 points, with a cut-off total score of ≤18 scoring points for patients in a high-risk (HR) subcohort, and of ≥19 scoring points for patients in a low-risk group (LR). Median PFS (23.8 vs. 5.5 months, p < 0.001) and OS (61.3 vs. 16.4 months, p < 0.001) were significantly longer in the low-risk group compared to the high-risk group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The HAMP score might be a convenient tool to facilitate individualized treatment decisions and appropriate follow-up. The accuracy and reliability of the score requires further evaluation in prospective studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141903668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Allen M Chen, Jeremy P Harris, Tjoson Tjoa, Yarah Haidar, William B Armstrong
{"title":"Hypofractionated radiation therapy alone for human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer.","authors":"Allen M Chen, Jeremy P Harris, Tjoson Tjoa, Yarah Haidar, William B Armstrong","doi":"10.1002/hed.27908","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27908","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To report a single-institutional experience with hypofractionated radiation therapy alone for human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods and materials: </strong>A total of 101 consecutive patients were treated by radiation therapy alone using a regimen of 66 Gy in 30 fractions (60 patients) or 70 Gy in 33 fractions (41 patients) for newly diagnosed p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Sixty-seven patients (67%) were never smokers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 3-year actuarial rates of overall survival, local-regional control, and progression-free survival were 94%, 93%, and 89%, respectively. Among never-smokers, the 3-year rates of overall survival and local-regional control were 98% and 100%, respectively. The grade 3+ acute toxicity rate was 21%, with the most commonly observed side effects related to mucositis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Hypofractionated radiation alone resulted in excellent outcomes for patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. A prospective clinical trial investigating this modality in the setting of de-escalation is currently underway.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141903669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ebraheem Albazee MD, Hemail M. Alsubaie MD, Justin M. Hintze MBMCh, MSc, FRCS, Isobel O'Riordan MBMCh, MSc, FRCS, Conrad Timon MD, FRCS, John Kinsella MSc, FRCS, Paul Lennon MSc, FRCS, Conall W. R. Fitzgerald MBMCh, MSc, FRCS
{"title":"The effectiveness of neck stretching exercises in alleviating neck pain and self-reported disability after thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials","authors":"Ebraheem Albazee MD, Hemail M. Alsubaie MD, Justin M. Hintze MBMCh, MSc, FRCS, Isobel O'Riordan MBMCh, MSc, FRCS, Conrad Timon MD, FRCS, John Kinsella MSc, FRCS, Paul Lennon MSc, FRCS, Conall W. R. Fitzgerald MBMCh, MSc, FRCS","doi":"10.1002/hed.27906","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hed.27906","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Thyroidectomy can lead to significant challenges such as neck pain, disability, and limited range of motion. Therefore, our objective is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to investigate the clinical effectiveness of neck stretching exercises in alleviating neck pain and self-reported disability immediately after thyroidectomy. We systematically searched PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception until July 28th, 2023. We assessed the selected trials for the risk of bias using both the RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools. Our specific outcomes were the severity of neck pain and self-reported disability after thyroidectomy. The results were synthesized using risk ratio (RR) and standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in a random-effects model using Stata software. Nine clinical trials, comprising five randomized and four non-randomized trials, were included, with a total of 1026 patients. Neck stretching exercises were significantly associated with improved mean pain scores both after 1 week (<i>n</i> = 625 patients, SMD = −2.43, 95% CI [−4.65, −0.22], <i>p</i> = 0.03, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 98%) and 1 month (<i>n</i> = 545 patients, SMD = −4.11, 95% CI [−8.12, −0.11], <i>p</i> = 0.04, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 99%). Similarly, neck stretching exercises were significantly associated with improved mean self-reported disability scores both after 1 week (<i>n</i> = 298 patients, SMD = −0.70, 95% CI [−1.36, −0.04], <i>p</i> = 0.04, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 87%) and 1 month (<i>n</i> = 298 patients, SMD = −0.42, 95% CI [−0.65, −0.19], <i>p</i> = 0.0004, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 0%). The pooled analysis showed heterogeneity (chi-square <i>p</i> < 0.01, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> > 80%), except for the mean self-reported neck disability score after 1 month, which showed homogeneity (chi-square <i>p</i> > 0.01, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 0%). This systematic review and meta-analysis, involving 1026 patients, revealed the potential benefits of neck stretching exercises in alleviating neck pain and self-reported disability after thyroidectomy. However, further research is required to address methodological limitations, evaluate long-term outcomes, investigate potential moderators (i.e., the duration or intensity of the exercise program), and explore patients' analgesic consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":55072,"journal":{"name":"Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hed.27906","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141894962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}