Physical Therapy
Only one patient with delayed TRAM flap reconstruction had decreased shoulder flexion and abduction bilaterally at baseline. The patient demonstrated improved shoulder flexion on the surgical
side at eight weeks, but no change in abduction. At eight weeks, five of the nine patients who underwent free TRAM flap surgery had reduced shoulder flexion on the surgical side, and two had reduced abduction compared to baseline measurements. Those changes were not noted in the pedicle TRAM flap group.
Cervical or lumbar spine active range of motion did not change significantly from baseline to eight weeks in either group.