Comparative Evaluation of Lymph Node Level Iia & Iib in N-0 Neck of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• A prospective study having 20 patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma with N0 neck was divided into 2 groups, Group I in which SOHND was done sparing level IIb, and Group II in which SOHND was done. • The primary aim of this study is to analyze loco-regional recurrence Additionally, we compare the relationship between level IIa and level IIb in cases where both levels are dissected, along with an evaluation of the shoulder movements and shoulder pain in both groups. • All the patients had negative lymph nodes at all levels except one in group II in which one lymph node was found positive at level Ib for metastases. No metastasis was found at level IIb. • The shoulder pain was significantly higher in Group II compared to Group I for all follow-up periods( P <0.01). • The degree of shoulder movements was also evaluated, at 3 months follow up all patients in Group I showed no restriction of movements which was significantly higher than in Group II where only a single patient showed no restriction of movements