Abstract
The “Axillary web syndrome” (AWS) is an early complication following breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph nodes dissection. Case Report: The patient is a 69-year-old woman, retired ex-employee, with outcome surgery right axillary lymphadenectomy with shoulder pain and functional limitation with diagnosis AWS it where it was recommended the physiotherapy. The patient had improvement in terms of shoulder function and pain and quality of life. Conclusions: The description of the clinical case afflicted with AWS and the treatment protocol applied, highlighted the good performance of the results, notably as concerns patient’s quality of life. This result could represent a starting point for creating clinical trials aimed at building appropriate rehabilitation route in territorial rehabilitation services.
Highlights
Breast neoplasm is the most common form of cancer among women
The description of the clinical case afflicted with axillary web syndrome (AWS) and the treatment protocol applied, highlighted the good performance of the results, notably as concerns patient’s quality of life
Education about and awareness of AWS should be promoted for both patients and providers, and regular assessments for AWS should be initiated by health care providers [12]
Summary
In Italy over 37,000 new cases are diagnosed per year [1] [2] 25% of which women below 50 years of age [3]. AWS normally appears between the first and the fifth week after surgery [4] [5] [6] diagnosed on 28.86% of women [7] [8]. L’AWS presents as a single cord or multiple thin cords in the subcutaneous tissues of the axilla. The cords frequently result in abduction shoulder pain and limited range of motion. It presents as a tight subcutaneous cord in the axilla. It can be associated with later lymphedema in a minority of patients. Education about and awareness of AWS should be promoted for both patients and providers, and regular assessments for AWS should be initiated by health care providers [12]
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