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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04680754

The Effect of Head-Neck Stretching Exercises After Thyroidectomy on Postoperative Pain Level and Wound Healing

Background: Thyroid diseases are one of the most common health problems all over the world. After thyroidectomy, patients often experience discomfort such as neck pain, shoulder stiffness, shoulder movement difficulty, choking or pressing feeling. Head-neck stretching exercises provide neuromuscular coordination and flexibility in patients by reducing pain and muscle weakness.

Methods: This research was carried out as a pre-test / post-test control group experimental design study in 82 patients in the general surgery clinic of a university hospital in Istanbul

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Key information

Conditions

Postoperative Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pain, Postoperative Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Postoperative Wound Complication Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cukurova University

Adana, Sarıcam, 01380, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Thyroid hormones are responsible for many metabolic activities in human physiology. It increases the basal metabolic rate, affects protein synthesis and helps growth of long bones. However, when thyroid functions change in the human body, the individual can be negatively affected and some individuals may require surgical intervention. Thyroid surgery is a prominent treatment for goiter, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules or thyroid carcinoma.

It has been reported that the most important complications after thyroidectomy are laryngeal nerve damage and hypoparathyroidism. Therefore, patients generally suffer from uncomfortable symptoms such as neck pain, shoulder stiffness, difficulty moving shoulders, choking or pressing feeling. In addition, it is indicated that in the early postoperative period, patients experience limitation in neck movement and have a robotic walking style in order to prevent possible neck pain and protect the incision area. It is emphasized that these symptoms persist for a while after the operation and negatively affect the daily life of the patient.

Neck stretching exercises which include basic movements of the neck are simple and effective exercises. Stretching exercises provide neuromuscular coordination and flexibility in patients by reducing pain and muscle weakness. For this reason, neck stretching exercises should be performed in early postoperative period and a nurse should teach the patient the head-neck stretching exercises and ensure the patient's comfort after thyroidectomy.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Having agreed to participate in the research verbally and in writing after being informed about the research,
  • 18 years of age or older,
  • Patients who were able to understand the information given, who could read, write and speak in Turkish, who have not any problems preventing verbal communication, and who underwent thyroid surgery were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients who suffers from cervical problems before surgery were excluded from the study.

Treatment and study plan

head-neck stretching exercises

Other

Neck stretching exercises which include basic movements of the neck are simple and effective exercises. Stretching exercises provide neuromuscular coordination and flexibility in patients by reducing pain and muscle weakness (Nakamura, Kodama, and Mukaino 2014). For this reason, neck stretching exercises should be performed in early postoperative period and a nurse should teach the patient the head-neck stretching exercises and ensure the patient's comfort after thyroidectomy.

Primary outcomes

  1. Postoperative pain intensity

    Time frame: Reported pain severity in the first 24 hours after surgery.

    Pain intensity assesment with Visual Assesment Scale (VAS) Score: 0-10; 0- No pain, 10- Worst pain

  2. Change from Postoperative Neck Pain and Disability at 1 month

    Time frame: Postoperative 1 st week and 1 st mounth

    Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS) The scale consists of 15 items. Each item measures the severity of pain, and evaluates the interaction of professional, social and functional aspects of life, and the presence and extent of emotional factors. Each item has a 10 cm visual analog scale. It is divided into 6 sections at equal intervals by vertical bars. Each item is between 0-5 points.

  3. Change from Postoperative Wound Healing at 1 month

    Time frame: Postoperative 1 st day, 1 st week and 1 st mounth

    Patient and Observer Scar Rating Scale (POSAS) The scale consists of 7 items, 6 of them are for evaluating the scar (pain, itching, color, elasticity, thickness and irregularity assessment) and 1 evaluating the general opinion about the scar. Each item has a Likert-type score ranges from 1 to 10. 1 indicates normal skin, 10 indicates worst scar assessment. The lowest score in scale, which is 6, demonstrates normal skin, the highest score 60 demonstrates the worst possible scar. The scale score is calculated over the first 6 items.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Acelya Turkmen

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Head-Neck Stretching Exercises After Thyroidectomy on Postoperative Pain Level and Wound Healing- Randomised Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Dec 23, 2020
Registry last updated
Dec 24, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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