Complex decongestion therapy in treating upper limb lymphedema after operation of breast cancer
LI Jing-yu
LIU Zhao-zhe
XIE Xiao-dong
Abstract：Objective To investigate the curative effect of complex decongestion therapy(CDT) in treating upper limb lymphedema after radical resection of breast cancer.Methods A retrospective study was performed on 44 cases of breast cancer after treatment of upper limb lymphedema who were admitted from March 2016 to March 2017.On 5 cm above the two sides of the wrist,10 cm under the elbow,10 cm above elbow,the fingers between the thumb and forefinger and axillary totally 5 points for the measurement of the circumference.According to the treatment before the healthy,limb difference in the upper limb lymphatic edema was divided into 3 groups,Group A(mild edema) in 15 cases:the difference between the circumference of the contralateral and ipsilateral limb(d) was less than 2 cm;Group B (moderate edema) in 16 cases:d was more than 2 cm and less than 5 cm;Group C (severe edema) in 13 cases:d was more than 5 cm.Three groups of patients underwent a course of treatment (20 days) with CDT.The same technique used to the same specificational tape for measure and compare the peripheral diameter of the limbs before and after treatment with CDT to analyze the efficacy of CDT.Results After CDT treatment,the ratio change of percentage of limb circumference reduction at five parts of the limb,including the 5 cm above the wrist,10 cm above the elbow,10 cm under the elbow,at the fingers between the thumb and forefinger,and axillary,the results had statistically significant difference between Group A and Group B(P<0.05);the difference between Group A and Group C had statistically significance(P<0.05);the ratio change of limb circumference reduction at three parts of the limb,including 10 cm above the elbow,10 cm below the elbow and axillary,the results had statistically significant difference between group B and C(P<0.05);the ratio change of limb circumference reduction at two parts of the limb,including the 5 cm above the wrist,the fingers between the thumb and forefinger,the result had no statistically significant difference between Group B and Group C(P>0.05).Conclusion CDT is suitable for any degree of breast cancer caused by postoperative limb lymphedema,and the most significant effect of severe lymphedema.
Keywords：Breast cancerLymphedemaComplex decongestion therapy
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 76-79 )