Liao, S.F. (2015). Lymphedema characteristics and the efficacy of complex decongestive physiotherapy in malignant lymphedema. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care. Advance online publication.
To review the efficacy of complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) in patients with malignant lymphedema (LE) and to identify predictors for and characteristics of outcomes
Retrospective
Excess circumference decreased, and CDP efficacy as defined by the PREV was 46.6%. Pain scores improved from 4.8 to 2.8. Shoulder range of motion improved from a mean of 151.7 to 159.7.
The authors demonstrated that intensive CDP improved lymphedema volume, pain, heaviness, tension, and range of motion in a small study of patients with malignant LE.
Previous thoughts or teachings may have suggested that cancer could be spread by manual lymphatic drainage. This study shows the importance of early treatment in patients with malignant LE with CDP, providing improvements in limb volume and range of motion. Patient tolerance and variations in bandaging were not clearly identified in this study, and these may require modifications to the patient’s comfort level.