Objective: To determine frequency of complication of modified radical neck dissection in patients at a tertiary care hospital Karachi, Pakistan

Material and Methods:

Study design: This is a cross sectional section study, conducted at Department of ENT, for Six months from January 1, 2019 to July 1, 2019. All the patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and visited to department of ENT, were included in the study after taking informed consent. Patients were discharged by 48-72 hours postoperatively. Patients were assessed daily till the time of discharge for occurrence of nerve complication, wound complications and vascular complications. Data was entered and analyzed by SPSS 21 software. Mean, Frequency and percentage were given for continuous and discreet data respectively. Chi squire test was applied to detect significance. P value of < o.o5 was taken as significant.

Results: Mean ± SD of age was 40.31±9.54 with C.I (38.62.......41.99) years. Out of 126 patients 84 (67%) were male and 42 (33%) were female. Out of 126 cases complication 46(37%) developed nerve complication, 47 (37%) had wound complication and vascular complication was documented in 27(21%) cases.

Conclusion: surgical complications after modified radical neck surgery are not uncommon. Wound complication was found to be most common followed by nerve and vascular complication. Therefore proper antiseptic measures before, during and after surgery, patient care and careful surgical steps have a role in preventing these dreadful complications.

Keywords: Modified Radical Neck Dissection, Complications, Nerve Complication, Wound Complication, Vascular Complication