[Clinical value of preserving intercostal-brachial nerve during breast cancer operations].

OBJECTIVE

To study the value of preserving intercostal-brachial nerve during axillary dissection for breast neoplasms.

METHODS

From June 1996 to December 1997, stage I, II breast cancer patients were divided into experimental group (n = 45) and control group (n = 60) respectively. The intercostal-brachial nerve was preserved in the experimental group and not in the control group. Both were followed up after operations.

RESULTS

The postoperation morbidity of arm sensory disturbance was 7.1% in the experimental group, which was significantly different from that of the control group(63.3%, chi2 = 34.69, P < 0.01). No difference was noted in the recurrence rate between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Preserving intercostal-brachial nerve may significantly decrease the morbidity of postoperation arm sensory disturbance during axillary dissection for stage I, II breast cancer patients.