Cori,

There are several types of neck dissections. There is the radical which removes the SCM muscle, the jagular vein, the spinal accessories nerve and lymph nodes. Then there is the Modified radical which preserves the nerve and there are others where only the lymph nodes are removed.

What affects the movement of the shoulder or arm on the side of the dissection is weather the spinal accessory nerve is preserved, removed or damaged during the surgery.

My family member had a modified radical neck dissection where the nerve was saved. There is no damage or loss of movement to arm or shoulder on the side of the dissection. The hospital stay was two days and recovery time from the surgery was about 6 weeks.

Radiation and chemo however were done following the surgery.

Best wishes to you and your brother.

CG to wife;
Jan 2005 DX SCC Tongue T2N1MO; RND surgery Mar 2005; 35 XRT and 4 cisplatin completed Jul 2005.
Dec 2006 tongue surgery, Scar tissue no cancer.
Feb 2010 neck node FNA - negative.
2010 ORN right jaw plus fracture
2015 ORN left jaw plus fracture
Feb 2016 Lower jaw reconstruction by Fibula free flap+titanium plate - Permanent G-tube
June 2016 Difficulty breathing - Permanent Trachea tube
Dec 2019 DX Cervical cancer - Stage 1 - Surgery Jan 16 2020.
15-20 esophagus/larynx dilations