Lymphoedema Evidence

Question 1

What did the quantitative review by Chan et al 2010 find?

Answer 1

• Early onset of training did not affect incidence of post op lymphoedema
• BUT early onset of training helped avoid deterioration in shoulder ROM

Question 2

What did the RCT by Lacomb et al 2009 look at?

Answer 2

• Effectiveness of early PT to prevent lymphoedema
• Prevention group (PT including manual lymph drainage, massage of scar tissue, progressive AROM/AAROM shoulder exercises & education)
• Compared to control (education only)

Question 3

What did the RCT by Lacomb et al 2009 find?

Answer 3

• 25% of control patients developed lymphoedema at 12 months compared to
• 7% of prevention patients

Question 4

What did the RCT by Box et al 2002 look at?

Answer 4

Likelihood of women developing lymphoedema at 3, 6, 12 & 24 months post breast cancer surgery

Question 5

What did the RCT by Box et al 2002 find?

Answer 5

21% of women had clinical signs of secondary lymphodema after 2 years

Question 6

What did the RCT by Laurisden et al 2005 look at?

Answer 6

• Effect of PT on shoulder function post breast cancer surgery
• A group: Team-instructed PT twice weekly from 6-8th week post op
• B group: Same intervention from 26th week post op

Question 7

What did the RCT by Laurisden et al 2005 find?

Answer 7

Team instructed PT (group A) found to increase shoulder function significantly in patients treated surgically for breast cancer at early and late stages