Biomaterial Database

Compression garments versus compression bandaging in decongestive lymphatic therapy for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized controlled trial. 2012

Myrna King, and Audrey Deveaux, and Heather White, and Daniel Rayson

Occupational Therapy, Capital District Health Authority, NS Rehabilitation Center, 1341 Summer Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4KY, Canada. myrna.king@cdha.nshealth.ca

BACKGROUND Lymphedema as a result of curative surgery for breast cancer can lead to long-term morbidity. Decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT) is recognized as an optimal management strategy for patients with moderate symptomatologies, but there is little data in regard to the most effective means of providing compression therapy within a DLT protocol. We conducted a randomized trial of two forms of compression therapy within the initial treatment phase of a DLT protocol for breast cancer-related lymphedema. METHODS Subjects were required to have mild-moderate lymphedema (10-40% volume difference) acquired as a result of curative breast cancer surgery and were randomized to compression bandaging or garments within the initial treatment phase of a DLT protocol. Primary endpoint was change in affected limb volume assessed via volumetry, and secondary endpoints were symptom control and upper extremity function assessed via visual analogue scales and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, respectively. Endpoints were assessed at day 10 of treatment and at 3 months and compared to baseline. RESULTS Twenty-one subjects were available for analysis. The group receiving bandaging experienced greater median volume reductions at 10 days (70 vs. 5 mL; p = 0.387) and at 3 months (97.5 vs. 50 mL; p = 0.182). The bandaging group also experienced a greater increase in median DASH scores at 10 days (+20.9 vs. +5; p = 0.143) and at 3 months (+18.4 vs. +3.3; p = 0.065). CONCLUSIONS Within the initial treatment phase of a DLT protocol for acquired, breast cancer-related lymphedema, compression bandaging may lead to greater volume reduction but worse upper extremity functional status (higher DASH scores) as compared to compression garments.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008209	Lymphedema	Edema due to obstruction of lymph vessels or disorders of the lymph nodes.	Milroy's Disease,Congenital Familial Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedema,Early Onset Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema 1,Hereditary Lymphedema Type I,Lymphedema, Early-Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary, Ia,Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne-Milroy-Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedemas,Congenital Lymphedema, Primary,Congenital Lymphedemas, Primary,Early Onset Lymphedemas,Early-Onset Lymphedema,Early-Onset Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedema 1s,Hereditary Lymphedema, Congenital,Hereditary Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedemas, Congenital,Lymphedema, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedema, Early Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary,Lymphedema, Nonne-Milroy,Lymphedema, Primary Congenital,Lymphedemas,Lymphedemas, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Early Onset,Lymphedemas, Early-Onset,Lymphedemas, Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Primary Congenital,Milroys Disease,Nonne Milroy Disease,Nonne Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne Milroy Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedemas
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D001943	Breast Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST.	Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D003020	Clothing	Fabric or other material used to cover the body.	Clothes,Garments,Military Uniforms,Nurse Uniforms,School Uniforms,Uniforms,Garment,Military Uniform,Nurse Uniform,School Uniform,Uniform,Uniform, Military,Uniform, Nurse,Uniform, School,Uniforms, Military,Uniforms, Nurse,Uniforms, School
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly