Surgical Positioning of the Arm During Thoracic Surgery -Effect on Shoulder Pain After Surgery?

University of Oslo (UIO)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Lung Cancer

Treatments: Procedure: Modified lateral positioning.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02149849

2014/406

Details and patient eligibility

About

Up to 85% experience shoulder pain after thoracic surgery, especially on the same side as surgery are performed. Referred phrenic nerve pain is probably one cause of ipsilateral shoulder pain (ISP), and positioning of the arm during surgery another. Studies indicates that ISP can be caused by the positioning of the patient during surgery due to muscle -and ligament strain. Can a change in the surgical positioning (less press and stretch) of the ipsilateral arm effect the shoulder pain after thoracic surgery?

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women;18 years and older
• Thoracotomy for lung cancer
• Video assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer.

Exclusion criteria

• Received treatment for shoulder pain
• Use pain medication on regular basis
• Under 18 year
• Length of stay in ICU more than 24 hours after surgery
• Does not understand the native language

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard lateral positioning

No Intervention group

Modified lateral positioning

Experimental group

Description:

Modified lateral positioning. This will ensure less pressure and stretch on shoulder than standard lateral positioning.

Treatment:

Procedure: Modified lateral positioning.