Effect of functional neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy on the spinal accessory nerve

Abstract

The EMG results of the study group revealed 19 cases with normal findings, 1 with total and 2 with partial axonal degeneration. The amplitude levels of the SAN in the study group showed statistically significant decrease when compared with the control group. The latency levels of the SAN in the four patients who received postoperative radiotherapy were significantly longer than those in cases who did not receive this therapy.