Effectiveness analysis of complex decongestive therapy on elephantiasis and skin texture
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20200715-00424
- VernacularTitle:手法淋巴引流综合消肿治疗改善象皮肿及皮肤质地效果分析
- Author:
Jiajia CHEN
1
;
Shunjun WU
;
Li WANG
;
Linghua HAN
;
Ningfei LIU
;
Ziyou YU
;
Lingling SHENG
Author Information
1. 上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院整复外科，上海 200011
- Keywords:
Elephantiasis;
Lymphedema;
Manual lymphatic drainage;
Complex decongestive therapy;
The skin texture
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2022;38(8):918-925
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effect of complex decongestive therapy(CDT) on elephantiasis and skin texture improvement.Methods:The clinical data of patients with elephantiasis of lower limbs who were admitted to the Department of Plastic Surgery, Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with elephantiasis of different causes were treated with CDT for 1 course (4 weeks). The skin texture parameters (skin water content, transepidermal water loss, skin fibrosis), limb circumference and segmental edema were measured before and after treatment and analyzed by paired t test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to detect the correlation between segmental edema and skin texture parameters before and after treatment. The subjective feelings of patients were recorded during follow-up. A self-designed online questionnaire was used to follow up the patient’s disease control status, including the limb circumferences, changes in quality of life (life, work, social and emotion), the adaptability to bandages and elastic socks. Data were classified and analysed as excellent, good, medium and poor.Results:A total of 20 patients were included, including 16 females and 4 males. The average age was 50.45 years (ranged 9-70 years). 5 cases were primary lymphedema and 15 cases were secondary lymphedema. The duration of the disease ranged from 2 years to 27 years, with an average of 8.4 years. After 1 course of treatment, the skin texture was significantly improved. The skin water content decreased from 55.6%±7.4% before treatment to 42.1%±7.4% after treatment ( P< 0.001). The transepidermal water loss decreased from (14.981±5.699) g·m -2·h -1 before treatment to (9.312±2.590) g·m -2·h -1 after treatment. The skin fibrosis decreased from (0.087±0.042) N before treatment to (0.065±0.033) N after treatment ( P<0.001). The circumference of the affected limb decreased from (11.09±3.14) cm before treatment to (4.82±2.83)cm after treatment ( P<0.001). The segmental edema decreased from (4.00±2.14)L before treatment to (1.21±0.78) L after treatment. Segmental edema was positively correlated with skin water content, transepidermal water loss, and skin fibrosis ( r=0.447, r=0.429, r=0.751, P<0.05). The patients were followed up for 6 months after treatment. The circumference control was excellent in 13 cases, good in 5 cases and moderate in 2 cases. The quality-of-life changes were excellent in 16 cases, good in 3 cases, medium in 1 case. The adaptability of elastic material was excellent in 9 cases, good in 8 cases, medium in 2 cases and poor in 1 case. Conclusions:CDT can reduce subcutaneous edema, effectively reduce limb volume, decrease skin fibrosis, improve skin barrier function, improve skin texture, restore the appearance of the limb and improve patients’ quality of life.
