Many patients who have surgery for head and neck cancer also need a procedure called a neck dissection, where lymph nodes and tissue are removed from the neck. During this surgery, even when a nerve called the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) is carefully preserved, patients often have shoulder problems afterward. These problems can include pain, weakness, and difficulty lifting the arm, which can affect daily activities and quality of life.
This study is testing whether using a special nerve wrap made from pig tissue (called AxoGuard® Nerve Protector) can help protect the spinal accessory nerve during surgery and improve shoulder movement and strength after surgery. This nerve wrap is already used in other types of nerve surgeries and may help the nerve heal better by reducing scar tissue and irritation.
