Ipsilateral Shoulder Pain, Lung Neoplasms
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial aiming to reduce shoulder pain after lung surgery. Shoulder pain on the surgical side is common after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, affecting about 20%-58% of patients. It can limit coughing, moving, and sleeping, and may delay recovery. The pain may come from two sources: nerve stimulation during surgery and the prolonged arm position used during the operation. While nerve stimulation is hard to avoid, the arm position can be modified. Currently, most pain treatments rely on medications or nerve blocks given after surgery, which have side effects or risks. No one has tried to prevent the pain by changing the arm position during the operation. We plan to enroll 270 patients scheduled for thoracoscopic lung removal surgery at Chengdu Shangjin Nanfu Hospital. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive the standard side-lying position with arms extended on arm boards (traditional position). The other group will receive a modified position where both arms are bent at the elbows and wrapped with surgical drapes, without using arm boards (modified double-arm wrap position). Our main goal is to compare the rate of shoulder pain (on the operated side) within 24 hours after surgery between the two groups. We will also compare pain on the opposite shoulder, pain severity, time needed to set up the position, total surgery time, hospital stay, and any nerve or skin complications. This study has been approved by the Biomedical Ethics Review Committee of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. All participants will provide written informed consent. The findings may help improve intraoperative positioning and enhance early recovery after lung surgery.
Interventions
OTHERModified Double-Arm Wrap Positioning
Participants in this arm are placed in the standard lateral decubitus position with a thin pillow under the lower side. Both upper arms are abducted to slightly less than 90 degrees, with elbows flexed at 90 degrees. A soft pad is placed between the hands. The forearms are positioned forward above the head, and both arms are wrapped together with surgical drapes for secure fixation. No arm boards are used. This modified position is maintained throughout the entire surgical procedure.
OTHERTraditional Arm-Board Position
Participants in this arm are placed in the standard lateral decubitus position with a thin pillow under the lower side. The contralateral upper arm is abducted to slightly less than 90 degrees with the elbow extended, and the forearm is placed on an arm board with a strap secured at the elbow. The ipsilateral arm is similarly positioned on a separate arm board. Both arm boards are used for fixation throughout the entire surgical procedure.
Sponsors
Chengdu Jinjiang Maternity and Child Health Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Age ≥18 years. 2. Diagnosed with pulmonary space-occupying lesion and scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic standard lobectomy. 3. ASA physical status classification I-III. 4. No pre-existing shoulder pain or shoulder mobility impairment prior to surgery. 5. No long-term use of analgesic medications (\>1 week) before surgery. 6. Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
1. Severe cervical spine disease or history of brachial plexus injury. 2. Cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorder precluding understanding of pain assessment scales.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Incidence of Ipsilateral Shoulder Pain Within 24 Hours Postoperatively | Within the first 24 hours after surgery |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Incidence of Contralateral Shoulder Pain Within 24 Hours Postoperatively | Within the first 24 hours after surgery (Postoperative Day 1, 0-24 hours) |
| VAS scores for Ipsilateral Shoulder Pain at rest and on movement at 24 h postoperatively. | At 24 hours postoperatively |
| incidence of ipsilateral shoulder pain at postoperative day 3 | Postoperative Day 3 |
| Positioning Setup Time | Intraoperative recording |
| Total Surgical Duration | Intraoperative recording |
| Postoperative Hospital Stay | At hospital discharge |
| Incidence of Brachial Plexus Injury-Related Signs Within 72 Hours Postoperatively | Within 72 hours postoperatively |
| Position-related pressure injury within 72 h | From the end of surgery to 72 hours postoperatively |
Countries
China
Contacts
CONTACTLU FENG
Outcome results
None listed