Effects of evidence-based rehabilitation nursing combined with early neck and shoulder exercises on cervical mobility in patients undergoing transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach.

OBJECTIVE: This paper was designed to reveal the effects of evidence-based rehabilitation nursing (EBRN) combined with early neck and shoulder exercises on cervical mobility in patients with thyroid cancer (TC) undergoing transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach (TOETVA). METHODS: One hundred and twenty TOETVA patients were randomized into control (routine nursing) and study (EBRN plus early neck/shoulder exercises) groups (n = 60 each). Outcomes included related surgical indicators, adverse events, neck pain and mobility (NPDS), illness perception (BIPQ), quality of life (QLICP-HN), and nursing satisfaction (NSNS). RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to the 24-h postoperative drainage volume, drainage tube retention time, postoperative hospital stay, or the incidence of postoperative adverse events (all P > 0.05). At postoperative day 7, the study group had lower NPDS scores across all dimensions and greater cervical mobility in six directions than the control group (P < 0.05). At 1 month postoperatively, the study group had lower BIPQ scores and higher QLICP-HN and NSNS scores than the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EBRN plus early neck and shoulder exercises may effectively improve cervical mobility, alleviate postoperative pain and disability, and enhance disease perception, quality of life, and nursing satisfaction in TC patients undergoing TOETVA.